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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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
6 years ago
This place is delicious! It's finally getting cooler fall weather and i was craving a nice warm hot bowl of pho. This place has great reviews so I had to stop by. The pho is always a classic but today I decided to go for the Pho Sate: spicy beef noodle soup combined with sliced rare steak, meat balls, well done flank, watercress, and cherry tomato in a chili hot oil beef broth. This was absolutely delicious and hot the spot. The perfect spicy level for me! Not dying spicy but definitely the right level of heat. I love the rare steak that comes with it and I let it cook in the broth just before it is done. Delicious with a squirt of lime. Also loved the watercress, reminds me of home when my parents would make watercress. The meatballs were ok. It came with 2 cherry tomatoes which is cute. First time trying pho sate and absolutely loved it. Can't wait to come back and try the kao soi!! read more
5 years ago
Tldr version: My favorite pho place in the area. Beats some unnamed places in Allston, and Quincy (much to my fiance's chagrin). Get the pho satay, its a bit spicy, full of noodles and beef and guaranteed to fix your cold right up if you're sick! Long version: Food: Is amazing! Be forewarned, I have only gotten pho here so I have no idea how the fried rice and other food options they have here are. Drinks: Hot tea (not free), milk tea and my favorite, smoothies. I usually opt for the pineapple and it tastes legit. Service: It does feel a bit rushed at times when you're seated but I can't blame them. It's a very small place and the line usually ends up going outside during dinner time and it is rough standing out there waiting for people to finish eating their hot soup so I'm sure the staff try and move things along (it also helps their bottom line too). Decor: small space. Never feels too cramped though. Nothing fancy going on in here. I've tried several pho places in and around the city and this is hands down my favorite. Beware with parking. Not easy around here especially during school year. read more
You know Boston is really missing good southeast Asian food when Pho Basil (with mediocre food) has lines out the door every night of the week. Because it's close to me and cheap, I would still come more often, except I hate waiting. So the summer are better when the students are gone. I've tried a variety of dishes from this place: Summer rolls - I would skip. It's too dry and the percentage of noodles in them are too high. If I had a craving, I would rather drive down to Dorchester to Ba Le. Pho - Probably my go to here. 3 sizes. Decent flavors. The noodles sometimes do stick together too much though. Khao Soi - Northern Thai curry soup with crispy chicken on top. The only other place I've had this dish was Lotus of Siam in Vegas which was fantastic. This obviously doesn't compare but actually better than I expected. Curry dishes - All fine if you want coconut based curries in a pinch. The portions are definitely quite big though. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
9 years ago
First things first- the pho broth here is amazing. I would definitely recommend the classic dac biet. A very pure broth that was satisfying every sip. The pad Thai was also good- the right amount of sweetness and tanginess with a very decent portion size. For apps we got roti'n curry dip, the scallion pancakes were eh, but the curry dip was better than expected. Overall, good ambience at the restaurant, seems to be a very popular place even right before closing time. read more
This restaurant had so many great qualities - casual environment, a full menu, great prices, delicious food. I got the Vietnamese fried rice lunch special and there was so much food, I definitely could've shared with another person. Other people at my table also got lunch specials or noodle bowls. I can't speak to the pho, but the tom yun soup tasted more like Korean kimchi stew, but I'm not complaining about that at all. I think pho basil is a wonderful spot to grab a fast, casual lunch whether it's by yourself, with coworkers, or friends. For the amount of food you get for the price you pay, it's one of the biggest bangs for your buck I've seen in terms of Asian cuisine in the Boston area. read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
Delicious as always! Friendly, fast and clean. All the tables are 6+ feet apart. My husband and I used to wait in line for a table prior to Covid-19. Today, we are the only two people sitting inside the restaurant. It is 7:30pm, prime time for dinner. They have a consistent flow to people coming for takeout, but it wasn't as busy as it used to be. Come and support your local business! read more
6 years ago
2 years ago
5 years ago
The food is not bad. If you are looking for good service, DO NOT GO to Pho Basil. I would give negative stars to the waitress alone if I could. This young woman was extremely rude to me and my 50+ year old parents. She told my mother to go read the menu after we asked a question, and later banged a full glass of mango latte against our table, spilling it to places and onto my father, then immediately left without saying a word. Feel free to continue reading about the whole thing. It went like this: My mom is not fluent in English. I started asking on behalf of mom: Could u change the meat (Chicken, for example) to duck in stir-fry Noodles? "You need to give me the name of the dish". Me checking again if we could have duck meat before ordering one "Yes, (She interrupted with a rushing tone) YeS I AlReAdY SaId SO bUt you need to GIVE me the NAME". I give her the name of a dish, Saigon Noodle, then ask if they have seafood with rice. "(Impolitely and immediately)No". My mom pointed at two pictures, I helped her ask: What are the differences between the two dishes? "You need to look at the menu, everything says there". She could clearly tell that my mom is not a fluent English speaker. I looked at her in the eye with a smile: so you don't want to explain? "(answered quickly)You weren't nice to me either". Wait. Excuse me?... This whole time, she pulled an unhappy and impatient face. She literally had one job as a waitress, and she couldn't serve her guests. She came back later, banged a full glass of mango latte onto the corner of our table, spilling the drink onto my father and everywhere else, and immediately went away. It felt like she was expressing her feelings by doing that. When the boss of the restaurant passed us a dish, I asked if we could have a different waitress to serve us the rest of the time. The boss said yes, and I could tell that the boss felt awkward (and a bit sorry). The boss and the second waitress (taller with glasses on) were polite. The food wasn't bad, but clearly, we didn't have a good experience. We even asked ourselves, did we do something that made the first waitress unhappy? (Notice that we were guests, and she was serving us) All we could think of was when we walked in, we had fries and a drink in our hands, and we ate a couple of fries. She came to tell us that we can't have food from outside. I briefly explained to my mom, and we moved the food away. My dad politely asked if she could come back later and give us a few more minutes to look at the menu. When we were ordering after she came back, I can guarantee that we weren't being rude to her, tho we didn't have much joy on our faces. Maybe she had a bad day, maybe the restaurant was busy, for whatever reason, she let out her negativity and ruined our good time. Good luck with her future life and career. I used to have a good impression of this place, and I was okay with the portion and price, too. Too bad, starting today my impression is changed. 07/12/2021 read more
5 years ago
As a tourist, some of my Boston friends brought me here after visiting the Museum of Fine Arts on Memorial Day. It was a trek from the MFA (about 15 minutes in drizzling rain), but they promised me the "best Pho in Boston." Given the weather and my hungry state, I obliged. The place was packed when we walked in. This is always a good sign since you know the place is popular with locals as well. We were a bit frustrated that someone who had been waiting longer than us was seated first even though she was still waiting on the rest of her party to arrive, but I guess that's the restaurant's policy, and the waitress was nice about it. After waiting about 15 minutes, our table of four was seated. I got the Chicken Satay and Pad Thai and tried my friend's Pho. The Chicken Satay was perfectly seasoned and grilled. It was "satayisfying" with the lettuce and peanut sauce. The Pad Thai blew me away with the generous portions they provided. Lastly, the Pho was done right. The broth was light with a full bodied flavor I associate with my Mom's homemade Pho. Good stuff. Summary: food 5/5, ambiance 4/5, service 4/5. read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
LOVEDDD the pad thai! Got it to go, it was a huge portion. It was also super super tasty. I think this is my favorite pad thai I've had in boston so far. Would def get it again, great deal. read more
HUGE PORTIONS. You will definitely have enough for 2-3 meals. However, it is absolutely delicious though, if you have a craving for Pho or any type of Thai/Vietnamese food, this is the place. As a NEU alum, most graduates/students LOVE Pho Basil and it is a common favorite among students as everything is soooo delicious. But it is heavy, greasy and A LOT of food, so it's definitely worth whatever you pay for it. read more
5 years ago
BEST PHO PLACE I've been to in Boston! The broth is extremely flavorful and the serving size is perfect. It's a nice large bowl with plenty of noodles and broth. The broth was so flavorful enough, you don't even need to add sriracha (unless you want a kick) and hoisin sauce. I got the bo vien pho (meatball) 10/10 delicious. The place is small and there is often a line during peak dining hours (lunch, dinner time). I was lucky and came a bit early on a weekday (Monday) but a line formed shortly after I sat down. That's how you know the place is good - people are willing to wait forever! read more
9 years ago
Ordered: Pho with raw beef - HUGE bowl, enough for two people. Pork chop over rice - grilled perfectly. Vietnamese Ice Coffee - strong, but not too strong and tasted very authentic. Thai Ice tea - a little bit too sweet, but still tasted good. Price: Moderate, slightly more expensive than general NY prices but tax here is lower! Location: Its located near a college (Berklee) so you see a lot of students popping in for lunch, overall it was a cute neighborhood and reminded me of home. Service: It was quite busy when I walked in so I was overlooked a few times, but eventually I got everything I asked for. Overall: Great food, great vibe, and decent prices. I would re-visit if I go to Boston again. read more
6 years ago
3 years ago
Wow, this place was worth the hype and the wait. I was looking at places to eat in Boston and came across a picture of their Koa Soi. I came specifically to try that dish and it did not disappoint. I also tried the spicy crab rangoons, and although I would never think of apple sauce as a good dipping side to rangoons it was surprisingly delicious! When you come here, walk inside and wait by the door until a server comes over to take your name (you might have to work to get their attention), wait outside if you want but make sure you stay close because you will get skipped if you're not in ear shot. Then sit and enjoy your delicious Thai food! read more
7 years ago
We went on a Wednesday night and there was a bit of line but nothing too bad! Food was delicious and of huge portion. I had enough leftovers for the next day's dinner haha. Service was fast and friendly, very accommodating as I asked for warm water and chopsticks. Tables are a bit too close and I couldn't help but eavesdrop on others' conversations (it was fun though!) read more
This place is my favorite Vietnamese place around the NEU area. It is reasonably priced and the staff is very friendly. The service is quite food. The restaurant is a little small so anticipate a short wait time sometimes. I got the mango fried rice and it was pretty good. Wasn't too salty or anything, overall I was happy with it read more
5 years ago
5 years ago
Walked here from my hotel and was pleasantly satisfied. They had plenty of vegetarian/vegan options so I took a brief five minute walk from the Hilton Back Bay. I was lucky to arrive when I did because five minutes after I was seated, there was a big rush. The place is not a large place so it can get filled quickly. I started with crispy rolls (Cha Gio Chay)and a lychee shake (mouth watering, yet?). That shake was super creamy and filled up the entire glass. It was sinful. I also ordered the red vegetable curry with vegetarian ham. It came with a super big pile of rice that I would be ashamed to finish. I mean, if I'm gonna eat carbs, I'm not gonna pig out on one of the worst kinds. But that's just coming from a girl wanting to stay in bathing suit shape until August. :-D Anyhoo, the crispy rolls were small... and crispy and came with a peanut sauce that was really tasty but overpowered the delicate flavors of the roll. The red curry sauce and veggies was delicious! There was a slight kick of heat on there somewhere, but I quite enjoyed it. When I was done, they closed me out immediately, probably because they needed to turn the table quickly because it was really busy. The service itself was really good, too. My waitress was attentive and kept checking on me. One more thing... I noticed that there were other noodle houses, or Asian inspired restaurants in the same strip on the street. I also spied with my little eye, that almost half of the customers in the restaurant were Asians. I think that speaks volumes for the authenticity and flavor of their food. Good job, Pho Basil! read more
9 years ago
This place is undoubtedly my fav Asian fusion restaurant in Boston. Totally worth standing in the queue for over 20 min! Their menu is so wide ranged that you can go there like 10 times without having to repeat the order and still can expect the best. Love their sea food entrees. Basil fish is something I would highly recommend. Their crispy chicken noodles from house specials was also very good. Way better than the ones I have previously eaten. For appetizers their portions are less but tastes good. I would suggest spicy rangoon, very creamy from inside and crispy at a same time. All you Asian food lovers, you should definitely try this place out. It's usually busy considering the demand for such tasty Asian fusion cuisine. Therefore try to get a reservation. read more
8 years ago
I am a regular since I live one block down. Today is probably my best day at the restaurant. Try the flan, not deadly sweet and won't scatter if you cut with spoon. I like flans that taste actually like eggs instead of just a whole chunk of sugar. Beef cinnamon curry. Beef is sautéed with a different sauce, interesting choice, and tasty. Curry is Thai styled, not Japanese. I love all the vegetables in the plate. read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
9 years ago
We came here for a late lunch, and I wasn't expected that it will be good, since it's more like a Asian fusion for me. However, all the food we ordered taste very good. The reason I gave 4 stars is because the services are slow, so my advice is to come with less people. I will come back if I have a chance! read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
A nice sit down place! The service was pretty quick and they were very nice. The food was also very satisfying with generous portions! We ordered the Roti'ncurry dip, which was very tasty. The shumai was pretty standard, nothing special but still good. I ordered the Bun Thit Nuong with lemon grass chicken. It was great! Make sure you mix well and add any sauce if you prefer. Overall a lovely experience. It wasn't phenomena lfood but very homey. read more
More info about Pho Basil
177 Massachusetts Ave
Ste A
Boston, MA 02115
Symphony
Directions
(617) 262-5377
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http://www.phobasilboston.com
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