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Love this spot! Food was incredible and worth the wait. Rotin Curry Dip- I could drink the dipping sauce it was that good. Edamame- too salty. Need to tone down the salt but still good Panang Curry- incredible and if I lived here it would be my go to dish.
Amazing Vietnamese and Thai comfort food. The menu all looks so good. I had a hard time picking something! I went with the pho mala. I really enjoyed it and liked it a lot more than I thought I would. The broth is really good. It is deep and flavorful. I thought it would be tongue numbing and too spicy but it wasn't. It has a nice kick to it but not overwhelmingly spicy. It has layers of anise, sweet, tangy and slightly spicy. The bowl is big and there is a good amount of noodles. I could easily make this 2 meals!
Lots of options to choose from, generous portions, and speedy service! The pho broth is sweet and fragrant, and the Kao Soi was quite flavorful and savory. The pickled daikon and carrots helped balance out the heaviness of the soup, and the crispy chicken was so juicy and tender.
The place is cute and everyone was super friendly. The food was more on the Thai side but it was really good.
Khao Soi at Basil Pho I've ordered it a handful of times now and it genuinely never disappoints. The chicken is perfectly crispy and adds that extra heartiness and protein that makes this feel like a REAL meal. One thing though: in person is definitely the superior experience. When you get it to-go or delivered, they separate the chicken, noodles, and broth so you can assemble it yourself (which honestly keeps everything from getting soggy), but eating it fresh in the restaurant just hits differently. The service is quick and the restaurant is small. There's always usually a line but the food is worth it.
This place is very close to Boston Symphony Hall, so I brought my colleagues here after the concert! Pad Thai: Just like at Nine Tastes, my first bite was overwhelmed by the strong sourness... According to ChatGPT, American Southeast Asian restaurants may use concentrated tamarind sauce instead of the original tamarind-infused water, or reduce the sugar to suit American tastes, hence the extra sourness of Pad Thai. Learned something new! The shrimp was very fresh, firm and tender; the rice noodles were stir-fried with a great wok hei 鑊氣(wok aroma), and the portion was huge, but it got a bit oily towards the end. My favorite was the peanuts--they were incredibly fragrant, and not too finely ground, giving them a better texture. Also, a larger plate is really needed; it would be much easier to mix all the ingredients together. Drunken Noodles: The wide flat rice noodles were authentic. The spicy flavor added another layer of wok hei, and the thin layer of chili oil helped retain heat and enhance the aroma. Although a bit spicy, I felt it was the best of the three. Saigon Noodle: It felt like a combination of the two above, with a touch of sweet and sour and a hint of spicy, but neither was particularly prominent. It had a hint of sesame oil, but I personally don't really like sesame oil.
Delicious food!! We came for lunch and got the pho dac biet along with the beef pad see you and both were flavorful and well made.
I don't know where to start for my review of Pho Basil. As a small business I want to give them as much credit as I can, but be as honest as possible. I ordered the Pad Thai with no modifications other than no bean sprouts, My group also ordered the Curry Puffs, Drunken Noodles, Pad See Ew, and Thai Tea. To get the worst out of the way before I get to the better part of my visit, the Pad Thai was majorly disappointing. It was sauceless and very dry, and lacked flavor other than lemon. If i'm being blatantly honest, I genuinely, truly, and honestly proceeded to order myself some pizza after I tried a bit of my food, and left it for a friend to finish (I fear she wasn't even keen on finishing the meal, and unfortunately it went to waste). 2/10 What I can say works WELL for this restaurant is the Drunken Noodle Dish with steak, it was full of vegetables, sauce, and very flavorful and tasty! I strongly regret not ordering that to begin with, as I tried some of my friend's dish and was jealous! 8/10 My other friend ordered the Pad See w/ shrimp, and it was okay, but lacked some flavor, she ended up adding sauces from home to liven up the dish, Not as good as the drunken noodle, but not as disappointing as the Pad Thai. 5/10 The stars of the show, besides the drunken noodle dish, were the: - Curry puffs, which I loved 9/10, - & Thai Tea 7.5/10. Not the best I've ever had, but definitely not bad. The actual space itself is a bit crowded if i'm being truthful, there is seating for in house customers so don't fear that factor, but for those who are ordering take out be aware that there is not much of a waiting area, which isn't a huge necessity, but makes things a little awkward when you have three women waiting for their order somewhat imposing on a couples intimate date due to lack of space. Take that as less of a complaint, and more of something to take note of. I'd recommend waiting outside if possible. The staff is kind! I have no complaints regarding their service. Overall i'd be hesitant to say I'd to go back, I've had better, but I wouldn't rule them out entirely. For what it's worth I was the only individual of three who felt outright disappointed in my meal. So I personally wouldn't get it again, but would not steer anyone away from trying them out on their own!
The food was amazing. The noodles were chewy and just the right texture. The soups were flavorful and delicious. We will be back.
Pho basil never disappoints and is our favorite go to ordering place for Vietnamese food! We had just come back from a big trip and hubs was not feeling well came down with a cold and cough. So what better than to order some hot pho noodle soups! We ordered 2 pho ga and 1 pho chay. All very satisfying and I just love all the veggies in the pho chay soup and that broth is super flavorful!! We also ordered the fried rice with chicken which was also quite good and a huge portion too. The chicken wings and dumplings were great! Delivery came quickly. Leftovers for a couple lunches were great!
This spot is the perfect place if you're looking for a hearty, cozy, and delicious meal! Located in the back bay, Pho Basil specializes in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. Their portions here are huge, prices are really good, and service is very quick and kind. I got their Saigon Noodles (something I've never seen at any other spot) and the dish came in a portion big enough for two meals. Super flavorful and bouncy noodles. Absolutely loved this place.
This place was packed with a line out the door right before one of the BSO concerts. That was already a good sign. Once we were seated, the portions that came out were HUGE, not to mention delicious. I got the drunken noodles with crispy chicken. Although the crispy chicken didn't really go with the noodles, they were still all delicious. I was only able to eat half of the portion and took the other half home.
6 months ago
I did not think I would like this very much, but I really liked what I ordered. Pho Basil is a small Vietnamese restaurant near Back Bay/Fenway area. I went with a large group and they were so kind to reserve a table for us when I called a few hours ahead, so I would recommend calling in advance like I did if you have a big group. I had the pho mala, which is a unique take on for using Chinese and Szechuan flavors. I was very surprised by how much I liked it. I tend to be a harsh critic when it comes to modernizing or interpreting Vietnamese food in a different way, but I really loved the flavor and the spiciness. It is almost like a hybrid between pho and bun bo hue without the lemongrass flavor. Very fair price as well for being in the heart of Boston. Fine ambiance too. Overall, I would definitely come back. read more
3 months ago
Love this spot! Food was incredible and worth the wait. Rotin Curry Dip- I could drink the dipping sauce it was that good. Edamame- too salty. Need to tone down the salt but still good Panang Curry- incredible and if I lived here it would be my go to dish. read more
Amazing Vietnamese and Thai comfort food. The menu all looks so good. I had a hard time picking something! I went with the pho mala. I really enjoyed it and liked it a lot more than I thought I would. The broth is really good. It is deep and flavorful. I thought it would be tongue numbing and too spicy but it wasn't. It has a nice kick to it but not overwhelmingly spicy. It has layers of anise, sweet, tangy and slightly spicy. The bowl is big and there is a good amount of noodles. I could easily make this 2 meals! read more
Lots of options to choose from, generous portions, and speedy service! The pho broth is sweet and fragrant, and the Kao Soi was quite flavorful and savory. The pickled daikon and carrots helped balance out the heaviness of the soup, and the crispy chicken was so juicy and tender. read more
2 months ago
The place is cute and everyone was super friendly. The food was more on the Thai side but it was really good. read more
Khao Soi at Basil Pho I've ordered it a handful of times now and it genuinely never disappoints. The chicken is perfectly crispy and adds that extra heartiness and protein that makes this feel like a REAL meal. One thing though: in person is definitely the superior experience. When you get it to-go or delivered, they separate the chicken, noodles, and broth so you can assemble it yourself (which honestly keeps everything from getting soggy), but eating it fresh in the restaurant just hits differently. The service is quick and the restaurant is small. There's always usually a line but the food is worth it. read more
This place is very close to Boston Symphony Hall, so I brought my colleagues here after the concert! Pad Thai: Just like at Nine Tastes, my first bite was overwhelmed by the strong sourness... According to ChatGPT, American Southeast Asian restaurants may use concentrated tamarind sauce instead of the original tamarind-infused water, or reduce the sugar to suit American tastes, hence the extra sourness of Pad Thai. Learned something new! The shrimp was very fresh, firm and tender; the rice noodles were stir-fried with a great wok hei 鑊氣(wok aroma), and the portion was huge, but it got a bit oily towards the end. My favorite was the peanuts--they were incredibly fragrant, and not too finely ground, giving them a better texture. Also, a larger plate is really needed; it would be much easier to mix all the ingredients together. Drunken Noodles: The wide flat rice noodles were authentic. The spicy flavor added another layer of wok hei, and the thin layer of chili oil helped retain heat and enhance the aroma. Although a bit spicy, I felt it was the best of the three. Saigon Noodle: It felt like a combination of the two above, with a touch of sweet and sour and a hint of spicy, but neither was particularly prominent. It had a hint of sesame oil, but I personally don't really like sesame oil. read more
4 months ago
I don't know where to start for my review of Pho Basil. As a small business I want to give them as much credit as I can, but be as honest as possible. I ordered the Pad Thai with no modifications other than no bean sprouts, My group also ordered the Curry Puffs, Drunken Noodles, Pad See Ew, and Thai Tea. To get the worst out of the way before I get to the better part of my visit, the Pad Thai was majorly disappointing. It was sauceless and very dry, and lacked flavor other than lemon. If i'm being blatantly honest, I genuinely, truly, and honestly proceeded to order myself some pizza after I tried a bit of my food, and left it for a friend to finish (I fear she wasn't even keen on finishing the meal, and unfortunately it went to waste). 2/10 What I can say works WELL for this restaurant is the Drunken Noodle Dish with steak, it was full of vegetables, sauce, and very flavorful and tasty! I strongly regret not ordering that to begin with, as I tried some of my friend's dish and was jealous! 8/10 My other friend ordered the Pad See w/ shrimp, and it was okay, but lacked some flavor, she ended up adding sauces from home to liven up the dish, Not as good as the drunken noodle, but not as disappointing as the Pad Thai. 5/10 The stars of the show, besides the drunken noodle dish, were the: - Curry puffs, which I loved 9/10, - & Thai Tea 7.5/10. Not the best I've ever had, but definitely not bad. The actual space itself is a bit crowded if i'm being truthful, there is seating for in house customers so don't fear that factor, but for those who are ordering take out be aware that there is not much of a waiting area, which isn't a huge necessity, but makes things a little awkward when you have three women waiting for their order somewhat imposing on a couples intimate date due to lack of space. Take that as less of a complaint, and more of something to take note of. I'd recommend waiting outside if possible. The staff is kind! I have no complaints regarding their service. Overall i'd be hesitant to say I'd to go back, I've had better, but I wouldn't rule them out entirely. For what it's worth I was the only individual of three who felt outright disappointed in my meal. So I personally wouldn't get it again, but would not steer anyone away from trying them out on their own! read more
1 month ago
The food was amazing. The noodles were chewy and just the right texture. The soups were flavorful and delicious. We will be back. read more
Pho basil never disappoints and is our favorite go to ordering place for Vietnamese food! We had just come back from a big trip and hubs was not feeling well came down with a cold and cough. So what better than to order some hot pho noodle soups! We ordered 2 pho ga and 1 pho chay. All very satisfying and I just love all the veggies in the pho chay soup and that broth is super flavorful!! We also ordered the fried rice with chicken which was also quite good and a huge portion too. The chicken wings and dumplings were great! Delivery came quickly. Leftovers for a couple lunches were great! read more
This spot is the perfect place if you're looking for a hearty, cozy, and delicious meal! Located in the back bay, Pho Basil specializes in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. Their portions here are huge, prices are really good, and service is very quick and kind. I got their Saigon Noodles (something I've never seen at any other spot) and the dish came in a portion big enough for two meals. Super flavorful and bouncy noodles. Absolutely loved this place. read more
This place was packed with a line out the door right before one of the BSO concerts. That was already a good sign. Once we were seated, the portions that came out were HUGE, not to mention delicious. I got the drunken noodles with crispy chicken. Although the crispy chicken didn't really go with the noodles, they were still all delicious. I was only able to eat half of the portion and took the other half home. read more
20 days ago
The best pho in Boston imo. It tasted so heartwarming we went on a rainy day and I've been ordering pho takeout from here ever since(it does come raw so ur gonna have to cook it) and the pad Thai with crispy chicken was so huge and delish! read more
24 days ago
Delicious ! First day in Boston. Had to try their Pho and pad Thai. Got seated right away and food on time. Recommend. read more
I've been to Pho Basil several times, with the experience ranging from great to mediocre. My favorite time to come is for the lunch special, when the restaurant is relatively quiet and dishes are even better value. In the evenings (even on weeknights), the restaurant fills up quickly. There are no reservations here, and the wait often trails out the door as diners circulate. Service is quick, especially in bringing out food, and the restaurant is quite casual. Drunken noodles here are decently spicy and a favorite. On the other hand, I found the kao soi to be average. While also spicy, I didn't enjoy the pickled vegetables much. read more
This right here is the place. Sign up for the waitlist online because it is worth it. The menu is extensive, the scallion pancake is the crispiest you'll ever have. The tofu curry was insanely flavorful. The pho is good but potentially a bit overpriced. I'm still dreaming of the curry from here, it's that good. read more
4 months ago
Came with a friend for a 6pm dinner on a weekday and there was only a 5-minute wait. Staff was decently attentive; we were in the corner by the window so didn't get passed very often and had to flag the waitress down a few times. Restaurant itself seemed pretty clean with good lighting. My friend ordered the pho dac biet and I got the pho bo vien. I found it interesting that they don't halve the meatballs like most other places. Bowl had a good amount of noodles and the broth was not bad but not the best I've had. The Thai iced tea I ordered as a drink was pretty solid. They did seem a little antsy to get us out and give us the check despite the restaurant being only half-full when we finished eating. I would be okay coming back but don't think I'd seek it out. read more
One of my favourite Pho places. I always get the Pho Tai or the Pad See Eww, and both coming from someone who was raised in the bay with lots of good Thai/ Vietnamese places that is very good. The service is very fast, and the waiters are very kind. Normal atmosphere, very casual. read more
1 year ago
A refreshing meal on a gloomy fall day. The Roti'N Curry Dip was a great starter, but surprisingly not spicy at all. The Pho Dac Biet was very enjoyable: a nice balance of tender beef and hot noodles, appropriately savory broth, and a variety of garnish. There was a large line outside when I came ~12, but was able to be seated within 10 mins after joining the waitlist. Service was very prompt (not rude though). +1 for the quick turnaround time (for the table and for food)! Def recommend! read more
1 year ago
first time here. place is a bit small and space is too tight between one table and the others. it was packed when i went there at that time. table itself too small. two people with lots of orders can make the table full and not comfort while dine in. for foods... 1. dac biet: love the broth. it is rich and flavorful. expect to get more broth, mostly during cold weather. oh by the way, their dry chilies with fried garlic sauce is so so good!!! should put lots of this inside the pho and even yummy!!! recommended pho... 2. chicken wings: it is just mediocre. just a recommendation if you can marinate longer, i think will taste even better... 3. spicy crab rangoon: just so so... overall, i will say a recommendation place for pho and prices are just average. will come back again if i visit massachusetts again... read more
2 months ago
Well helloooo Pho What a wonderful local gem of a place to discover on a whim while having a craving for Pho. A warm & bright local eatery with a comfortable atmosphere and a menu with a mix of Thai & Vietnamese dishes. Needless to say, but I'm going to say it anyways... our need & craving for delicious Pho was wholeheartedly fulfilled & completely satisfied. read more
We had plenty of Vietnamese food back home, and since we hear the staff and back kitchen speak Thai, we thought going with their own Thai cuisine would be the better choice instead of pho. The lunch special was so filling that we came back for a second time! The classic pad thai dish was flavorful and the pad kee mao had a pleasant roasty taste. With a cozy simple environment, this place is definitely good for small groups and quick meals. read more
Pho basil is a casual (but cute) Vietnamese thai fusion place that has all the staple dishes! Service is super friendly (the owner stopping by at all tables to check-in) and dishes are served fast!! I tried bun bo hue for the first time here and I enjoyed it! The portion was good, meat and noodle quantity were good, and the broth was tangy and enjoyable. I would say for Vietnamese places I was a bit surprised by the price (a bit more expensive than im used to). read more
1 year ago
Food was super flavorful and authentic tasting and pricing (lunch special) was great for the portion. Only criticism would be the wait staff, not the friendliest, but I understand that most customers go there for a quick solo bite instead of an attentive sit down meal. read more
We were headed to the Boston Pops for New Year's Eve and wanted a tasty, sit-down dinner but not a 4 course event. I found Pho Basil, on YELP, based on location (a 3 minute walk from Symphony Hall) and that it was Asian (Thai and Vietnamese) food, among our favorites. Our concert began at 8:00PM and we got to the restaurant at 6:30PM on New Year's Eve. Not "fancy" but clean with lots of tables available and a very welcoming staff. We were met at the door, with pleasure and seated immediately. Honestly, during the whole meal, the staff couldn't have been more pleasant. June and Lin waited on us with smiles and personality. When the napkin fell from my lap, a young man brought several over before I noticed it. We ordered the Gyozas to start and a Singha Beer to share. Delicious. For our main dish, we shared the Saigon Noodles with crispy chicken. We rarely eat fried food but it was New Year's after all! I will go back for exactly the same thing again! I didn't realize until I went back onto YELP the next day that the Crispy Chicken is one of their specialties, a lovely crunch of flavor. Before or after the Symphony, Pops, or The Huntington, well worth the stop. read more
7 months ago
Checked this place out and was very impressed! This place has been on my list for a bit, so it was nice to finally get to experience. We got there and the restaurant was full with a small line of people. We joined the waiting list and only had to wait 15 to 20 minutes before we were able to get a table. The ambience inside is nice. It's definitely packed with a lot of people when all the tables are full, but you're still spread out enough where you don't feel too cramped. Our service was also great the whole night and all of the servers were kind and welcoming when they came up to the table and even while we were waiting for our table to be prepped. The menu is very extensive with lots of options! I appreciated all of the indicators on the menu to show different dietary cues for spiciness or whether it was vegan or vegetarian. There is also a vegan section in the menu that covers all the items that are vegan as is. Definitely a good amount of options and something for everyone. I tried the veggie tofu curry. It was really good and indicated as spicy. I found that it wasn't too spicy. It was enough that you could taste the spice, but it wasn't overwhelming. I appreciated that the curry came with rice instead of being an add-on cost as it is with some places. I thought it was pretty good portions for the cost. If you're wanting to try multiple dishes, the portions are definitely good enough for sharing. I also got a Thai iced tea with espresso and was so excited to learn that they had an oat milk option so that it was vegan. It's been a long time since I've been able to have a Thai iced tea and I thought it was really good! I would definitely go back and get it again. read more
1 year ago
I used to go to Pho Basil a few years ago when I first started at Northeastern. I haven't been in a while and decided to try it since I wanted pho and most places in Boston close around 9. This place is mainly popular because of its location near Berklee and Northeastern but it's really not that great. The pho broth was way too sweet and it's a bit on the expensive side. The chicken wings were pretty good though. It's relatively quick to get sat and get your food but I definitely wouldn't go out of my way to come back again. read more
Very popular. I came on a Friday night and not only was it packed but it was a 40 minute wait. Normally I would not wait but in this case it worked because I was attending an outdoor concert across the street. It is a self-check-in QR system. You can keep track of your place in line via your device. I had the dac biet pho and sesame wings. It was the first evening with a chill in the air and the soup hit the spot. Not sure it's the traditional preparation because I usually have it with a clear broth, but it was a flavor bomb. I also like how the rare beef is presented mostly rare, which allows you to cook it your prepared level of preference. The chicken wings had a nice coating of sauce. It is not battered and cold use an extra minute for crispiness but cravable. I like the accompanying greens and pickles. On the other hand, the pho could have used more. It only had basil and bean sprouts. I am amazed at the friendly and attentive staff. Like I said they were non-stop busy. I also like the diversity the staff. All Asian but different parts of Asia. I also appreciate how they stick to your place in line no matter how large or small your party. read more
9 months ago
Yummy! Great service. The store isn't very spacious, but it's cozy. If I ever come back to visit Boston, I'll definitely come back here again :) read more
I always want pho on a rainy day, so I decided to try Pho Basil since it seemed pretty popular! We waited about 15-20 min which wasn't too bad, but just be aware that there will probably be a wait. I got the pho tai and a jasmine limeade. The pho tai was decent/good with broth that was relatively flavorful and meat that wasn't too tough, though it wasn't the best I've had in boston. The jasmine limeade seemed pretty fresh, though it was quite sour. Not sure if I would go again but it's good enough if you're craving pho! read more
5 months ago
Second time and I liked the wonton soup I got and liked sitting by the window. I like the vegetables that came with the wonton soup. Noodles had a good texture. read more
11 months ago
Great drunken noodles. So many veggies. I just wish the interior of the place was more welcoming, the green colors are uninviting, like hospital cafeteria eating.. read more
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177 Massachusetts Ave
Ste A
Boston, MA 02115
Symphony
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(617) 262-5377
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http://www.phobasilboston.com
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