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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.
On Friday evening I decided to join some friends for dinner at Pho Basil. Given that it was 8pm, our party of 4 had a 20 minute wait quoted, which proved accurate. After getting seated and perusing the menu, I decided on the khao soi ($13.8). The menu describes this as a "Northern [Thai] style noodle with steam yellow egg noodles, crispy chicken, picked vegetables, a wedge of lime, topped with fried crispy yellow noodles and scallions." That description proved accurate. The egg noodles, chicken, etc, all seemed satisfactory. The broth, basically a coconut curry broth, acted as a soup broth. Some places choose to make the broth denser, like the difference between ramen broth in Japan and in America. Nonetheless, it still seemed delicious, if a bit over-indexed on coconut milk. The portion size seemed decently filling. read more
2nd night of my business trip. I again opted for a familiar and reliable cuisine. I'm generally of the opinion that any Thai food is good Thai food. I ordered the drunken noodles w beef, chicken wings and Thai tea. This was a mobile order but the delivery was only half a mile.T First thing I noticed was that there were no utensils given(even though I specifically asked for it). Great, how am I supposed to eat the noodles? Luckily my hotel gave me some so it wasn't a big deal. Wings-full disclaimer, fried chicken wings are my fav food. I will eat day old grocery store fried chicken because my standards are out the window when it comes to fried chicken. Now I understand that this was a mobile order but the wings came pretty dead. The wings themselves don't have much flavor but the sauce adds some sweetness. The texture of the wings... well I was well familiar with it eating grocery store wings. No juiciness, soggy sides and just overall poor flavor. I would've thought these were from a forgotten hot bar from the texture. Maybe these wings would have been better in store? But I think modern tech has solved wing transportation(vent holes) so I would expect better nowadays. Maybe I'm just spoiled by Korean fried chicken. Drunken noodles-a dish that I think is very difficult to get wrong. I chose the beef(upcharge) option and was very disappointed. The beef came with 3 large pieces that I initially thought were just not cut up. Once I bit into it, it was obvious the big pieces were mainly just gristle. Tough, rubbery cuts that I would typically throw away. Fortunately there weren't many beef pieces as the dish tasted better without them. The flavors of the noodles themself were still good, although I wish they had a wokhei flavor that usually elevates the dish. Thai tea-opted for no ice(upcharge). I'm not sure if you actually get more this way since the cup doesn't come filled up. It did come in a bag in the mobile order though so that was considerate in case of spills. The flavor itself was fine. A bit surprisingly, I wished it was a tad bit sweeter. Typically I find Thai tea too sweet so that was unexpected. Overall, Thai food is a great cuisine. I was pretty sad writing this review bc I really love Thai food. I think the fact that the flavor profile is Thai really boosted the rating for this review. But maybe not all Thai food is good Thai food. read more
1 year ago
Quite possibly the best bowl of pho soup I've ever had. The soup was very flavorful and a tad sweeter than others I've had. The tripe were a delight to eat. Typically, tripe at other pho places is overly chewy. Lots of rare steak, flank steak, tendons, tripe, and even bonus cubes of fat. I love it! Even though the line is long, it moves very quickly. But don't worry, because the waiter is worth it. read more
This place is Popping on a Friday night. Get there early because there will be a wait. The food is solid and the portions are good. The service is average--we had to remind our server to bring water. Because it was so busy, i felt rushed to finish and leave. The server kept coming by and asking if we wanted a box while we were still clearly eating. I'd recommend getting takeout if you want to eat at a busy time. read more
3 years ago
This is a very well loved spot among college students in the area, with Berkeley and Northeastern students always waiting outside (even in really cold weather!) to get a table. I really think that Pho Basil would benefit from expanding their seating space or taking reservations (or both!). Especially during peak hours like during dinner, expect to wait 15 minutes or more and there is no indoor waiting area. I have ordered their Dac Biet (the basic pho dish) both times I've been, and it doesn't disappoint. The flavors are great and the meat is tender. I've had many Pho dishes before and this one doesn't stand out among the best, but is a solid option for a reasonable price. I haven't ordered the Pad Thai, Pad See You, or Thai Tea before, but other members of my party had only positive things to say about their dishes. read more
Ordered with Uber eats and everything came packaged well. My favorite out of all of the food had to be the gyoza as they were delicious, kept their shape well, and the dipping sauce had so much flavor. Drunken noodles had the perfect level of spice and shrimp was cooked perfectly. Thai iced tea was a good level of sweet. read more
Picked up to-go. Thai fried rice was solid. Lots of flavor. Add the crispy chicken it's worth! You can't skip out on the spicy rangoon. Pairs perfectly with the sweet and sour sauce. Come here for comfort food and generous portions. Thai fried rice (add crispy chicken): $13.95 + 2 Spicy Rangoon: $7.95 Thai iced tea: $4.95 read more
1 year ago
It's a small place with not a ton of seating so join the waitlist ASAP! I waited about 25 minutes for a single table on a Saturday night. The service was great though. Everyone was so nice and attentive. The food was brought out very quickly and very hot! I ordered the sesame wings which were super crispy and lightly sauced. The pho was also great! It's hard to say much more than I really enjoyed the food here. Tai 9/10 Sesame wings 8.5/10 Definitely worth trying if you need some quick food for a great price. The portions are solid size for the money. I recommend going! read more
This is a very solid pho place to satisfy a craving. Can it compare to the Vietnamese places I've tried in California? No. But it is a great option in the middle of the city. I would go here over Le's. I got the bun bo hue ($12.95). The bowls are huge but they mostly contain broth. The broth was lighter than I am used to but still packed with umami. The color of the broth was deceiving because it was not spicy at all. Like I mentioned, the bowls are full of broth so the actual noodle portion actually wasn't too big. The portion size was fair for the price, though. I was a little annoyed at the onion slices that came with my bowl because they were tough and fibrous (maybe an old/bad onion?). The noodles were supposed to come with flank steak, rare steak, and tendon, but my bowl mostly had flank steak. There was one small piece of tendon. To be fair they give a lot of meat. read more
2 years ago
I ordered takeout from Grubhub for pickup, and this was actually my second time getting food from here. Both times I got Pho Dac Biet. However, the portions were noticeably smaller this time. The rare steak was cooked like I requested, so that's a plus. The staff there who I interacted with were nice. The restaurant was busy both times I've been there. The only criticism I have with this place was the change in portion size. read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
Ordered delivery. The Chicken pho GA is awesome! There is something about the broth thats simple yet effective. sprouts, noodles, cilantro, chicken, scalions, thinly sliced onions, and basil come with it. I had no idea how exactly to eat this the first time, so I used a large bowl. But the plastic container the broth comes with is just big enough to host all of it minus the noodles. Slowly add noodles as you are eating and no need for a separate bowl. I don't add Hoisin Sauce, since the subtle flavors of each ingredients coupled with the broth is flavor enough. Very soothing to eat too, especially when hot. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
The place is small but clean and bright. Service was good. One of the best pho I've had. Tasty broth. Good selection. Would definitely return and recommend. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
SO good! Definitely join the waitlist, got our table right on time! Fried rice was incredible. read more
2 years ago
One of our favorite Thai/Vietnamese food places in Boston. Their curries and noodles are always tasty! This time we tried the Spciy tofu eggplant curry and spring rolls. They also have really good Thai iced tea and Vietnamese iced coffee. The service is fast and ambiance is nice! read more
Pho Basil served a variety of Vietnamese and Thai noodle and rice dishes, so it's perfect for those who love to try new things. Pho basil is located right across the street from Berkeley Music School, and the place was packed with a wait even at 4:45 PM. The staff is very friendly and prompt with getting you water and utensils. I opted for the Thai egg noodles (Kao Soi) and my wife ordered the combination Pho. The pho broth was above average compared to other spots and the egg noodles in my Kao Soi were cooked to perfection. Pho basil has all the fixin's to satisfy your south East Asian cravings! read more
I was going through the pictures on my phone and realized that sometime in mid-August we stopped in to have some Pho for dinner. One bowl of chicken and the other, spicy beef noodle. The fact that we decided to sit in front of a bowl of steamy soup in one of the hottest months of the year is a testament to how good it is. read more
4 years ago
Its the best thai food youll get around Newbury. One of the unique foods I love getting here is the Phu-ket rice noodles. But the issue I have is that they are NOT made consistently. Last time I got lunch it was too oily and not enough flavor and spice (I'm a very spicy eater so this was a must). The first time I ate it, the portions were so large AND made with the perfect amount of spicy. Second time was also similar. I just think it depends on the chef who's cooking. The tom yum soup was NOT it. Tasted like sour-salty water. Would not recommend. I think the most classic dishes are probably the safest to ensure quality gets matched every time. Its a great place to hang out and have dinner though! I like that they're usually one of the less-crowded restaurants on the street. I definitely would come again for standard Thai food but wouldn't boast about anything here. read more
3 years ago
Huge portions and solid flavors! The wait can definitely take a bit on weekends for dinner though. I highly recommend the drunken noodles, pho sate (spicy) and khao soi (coconut curry soup with crispy and soft noodles, fried chicken, and pickled veggies). Generally tons of college students and families, the vibe is very lively and loud. read more
Stumbled upon this place and was pleasantly surprised! The pho broth is on the sweeter side but I didn't mind it because the quality was there. This place is always busy, and I now can see why. The restaurant itself isn't too huge - I don't think they could accommodate a party larger than 6. Food was very good! Came out in a timely manner and flavors were there without being too overpowering. Pineapple fried rice - not as expected, as it had little pineapple and a lot of random vegetables (and huge chunks of it too) and they also used cumin powder which I think is either a hit or a miss so be aware of that. I didn't mind it but wouldn't get it again. Pho dac biet - sweet broth but lots of flavor. I asked for extra cilantro and lime + chili oil (this is the key) and it was so so good. Crispy chicken house special - this was the real pleasant surprise. Very much enjoyed this dish that the waitress recommended. Chicken was crispy, sauce that came with it balanced it well, and the noodles were chewy. read more
WOW!!! The Pho here is definitely authentic and the broth is so flavorful!!! I come from a 100% Vietnamese background and this pho shop is definitely David-approved! Here's what I ordered and my thoughts: 1)Pho Dac Biet: Super delicious. it comes with everything. Broth is sweet, savory, noodles cooked to perfection, the rare beef gets cooked in the steaming clear broth. Chef's kiss 2) Spicy crab rangoon: definitely not spicy, im not sure where the spice comes from. First time having crab rangoon and ITS SO GOOD! melts in your mouth and the flavor is kickin! would order this again 3) fried gyoza: probably my least favorite. i wished this was crispier. i just think its frozen gyozas and they heat it up for us... not sure if this is house made. but its pretty mediocre. good as an appetizer 4) Bun Ho Hue: i am actually from Hue, Vietnam, and I know what a great BBH tastes like. This was alright! it was good, flavorful, had all the elements and components. There was just one thing that was missing about this dish and i couldnt put my finger on it! overall this dish would be a 4/5 stars Overall, such a happy customer, will definitely come back again! read more
3 years ago
Delicious and not too packed on a Sunday night. Service was terrific and quick. I loved the soup and got another to go. read more
Very fast service and food is fairly cheap. The food is also delicious. I have no complaints. It is definitely catered to college student. Authenticity? I grew up in Việt Nam and I don't know this type of noodles but whatever it is tasty read more
3 years ago
Imagine when you are tired and hungry, and then you walked into the nearest restaurant and had a very satisfying and delicious meal, how happy and grateful would you be? That's exactly our experience that day back at this restaurant. The beef phos and the scallion pancakes with curry dip we ordered were so yummy and everything was just perfect! read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
Bun Bo Hue - 3 stars out of 5 - The broth is decent but it could be more flavorful/spicy. The vibrant orange/red broth is deceiving. I was upset by the lack of meat in the soup, it was mostly tendon and fat. Coconut juice and Thai Iced Tea are hits! I love how there are thick slices of coconut meat in the drink for you to spoon out and eat. It definitely isn't fresh but It was sweet and refreshing. The Thai iced tea is delightful. However, I wished that there was less ice in both drinks because the cup is already much smaller than the cups that they use for your water. It is an additional $1 charge for no ice. It's been some time since I've tried the pho but my boyfriend reminded me that I commented on how it was "just okay" when we first went together and had it. It must have not been memorable. I recommend ordering the Thai noodle or rice plates for cheap and large portions of food that can last over 2-3 meals. They are pretty good. I recommend ordering the Thai dishes over the Vietnamese plates because it seems like the owners are Thai/not Vietnamese and this is really evident by how the bun Bo hue is listed under the "pho" category in the menu. It is it's own unique soup and is not the same thing as pho. Additionally, the Saigon noodle, although tasty, is definitely not something you'd find in an authentic Vietnamese joint or in Vietnam. Overall, a great place near Northeastern's campus for a quick, casual and hearty lunch or dinner. read more
More info about Pho Basil
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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