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    Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant

    4.0 (778 reviews)
    ModerateVietnamese, Thai, Noodles
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

    Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant Photos

    PHO XE LUA VIET THAI RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant

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    BBQ beef com
    Meredith R.

    My daughter returned from Vietnam last night. With her posts of the wonderous food she ate, I knew what I wanted for lunch. As luck would have it, before walking over to Chinatown we struck up conversation with a woman from Vietnam. She suggested we try Nha Hang. So we did! (Apparently, the place goes by different names. Look for "Nha Hang" on the sign.) The sole person working the dining room -- waitressing, bussing tables, packing to-go containers, taking payment -- was friendly and solicitous, doing her job with aplomb. When we were leaving she said, "I haven't seen you before." It was clear from her interaction with patrons, that the restaurant was filled with "regulars," primarily Vietnamese. I had no intention of ordering pho, but when I saw most everyone eating it, I joined the crowd. My bowl of soup, the smaller of two sizes on the menu, was massive and arrived piping hot. Like too hot! I doctored up the broth with some chili, adding of course the requisite sprouts and Thai basil leaves. Delicious! T ordered com: BBQ beef, shredded pork and steamed egg on rice. You can choose from over a dozen variations. I tasted the beef and was impressed with the flavor and texture. BTW we ordered spring rolls mistakenly thinking they were summer rolls, but no matter. They were crisp, lighter than Chinese egg rolls and albeit fried, weren't greasy. Three to an order. The restaurant accepts credit cards, with a $15 minimum purchase. Note that they're closed Wednesdays.

    Brian O.

    We were visiting Philly for the weekend and wandered into Chinatown craving some pho. While driving around, we found Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant and decided to give it a try. I ordered the special pho, while my wife went with the beef pho, and we shared some crispy spring rolls. The food was decent--nothing particularly memorable, but it hit the spot. The pho broth was solid, but not the most flavorful we've had. What really stood out, though, was the service. Even on a busy Sunday afternoon, we were seated right away, and the staff was attentive and friendly throughout our meal. Overall: If you're in Chinatown and want a quick, no-frills pho fix with great service, this spot will do the job.

    Grilled pork with broken rice
    YangHwa P.

    I have heard about this place for years. I finally tried it since I usually go for Vietnamese on Washington Ave. Inside is a no frill interior, but the service was really good. We ordered grilled pork with broken rice, and grilled pork bun with minced shrimp on a sugar cane. The flavours were really good, and they also give you plenty of food. I really enjoyed everything about my food, will definitely come back.

    Parisa A.

    I've been here twice. The fried rolls were okay, but their beef pho is delicious! It's a great price for a big plate of pho. I was able to share my pho with someone else and we both were filled by the time we were done. I'm looking forward to coming back especially in the cold!

    My N.

    Loved coming here and trying some pho in Philly. I'm from the west coast so the favor is different here but still delicious. I got the pho chin, the broth wasn't oily or overwhelming. Just perfect and the portions here are huge. My favorite was the bun rieu. I was surprised they had big pieces of pork in the soup. And there wasn't big chunks of tomatoes. The broth was also a lot more red than I had before. But it was still very tasty. I would skip out on the egg rolls next time .it was just okay.

    Noodle salad - bun
    Allison L.

    I really wanted to love this place for it's incredibly large menu of several types of East Asian cuisine, it is also very inexpensive, but I think it's important to know a few things about what you're walking into. First, this is Chinese owned, you're not going to have the authenticity of a Thai or Vietnamese restaurant. I consider this more like an Asian diner--a huge variety of options, but you're not going to get the best quality if you order something like a pasta or steak. The food is edible, but the seasonings, spices and flavors are off. I ordered the pad thai and it was incredibly tangy-sour and orange, also made with pho noodles. I also ordered the Vietnamese bun (noodle salad) which was more authentic, but felt like it was very basic. Tables next to me ordered noodle soups, which definitely looked better. Looking back, I'd go somewhere with fewer options that specializes in one type. I was really hungry and really craving Asian food/couldn't decide between Thai and Vietnamese, so this felt like the best option. I'd stay away from the pad thai and stick with the noodle soups or rice dishes if you come here.

    101. Special Xe Luan Medium Rare Beef Rice Noodle Soup
    Amily C.

    I was born and raised in Philly Chinatown and have been eating here for as long as I can remember. It's been a whole decade now and even though me and my family have moved right outside of Philly, we still drive that long distance and come here to eat because it's never changed. The fresh smell of their noodles brings back nice childhood memories. Their food has always been great and their broth is absolutely delicious. Me and my siblings always clear the entire bowl and leave nothing behind. Their spring rolls are a MUST TRY because it's always very crispy and steaming hot when they serve it to you. The drinks are amazing especially their fruit smoothies because they use actual fresh fruits so their drinks end up having a lot of flavor. The staff here are very nice that we even managed to get along with some of them. You can rest assured that you WILL get what you paid for because they fill their bowls to the brim. There's always going to be a good amount of food in each of their dishes so feel free to order whatever you crave. Couple tips: Try to eat AT the place to ensure that your food is fresh and good. Take out for the most part isn't really good because your food is literally just sitting there until you get it or until you open it up and eat it. USE THEIR SAUCES!!! Or make your own sauce with the ones provided. Always makes a difference when I dip food in it or mix it with the soup. Don't be afraid to come with a big group of people. They have an upstairs seating area too but I guess if you're coming with a lot of people just let them know in advance before entering. This is Chinese owned so it's more like a casual Asian restaurant but the food is definitely worth a try because it's affordable.

    In the area for some Vietnamese! Iced coffee egg rolls, banh cuon, curry, pad thai, pho, rice dish. This place has it all!
    Lord M.

    Long night out and needed some revitalization. Saw this resturant in Chinatown and decided to stop by. Service was good, and definitely had an extended menu in regards to Vietnamese authentic dishes (saw some frog on there) which I don't normally see around my way. Food was okay, wasn't anything spectacular but got the job done.

    138. Stir-Fried Rice Flake with Satay Beef
    Eileen Z.

    To be fair, we didn't have their pho, which seems to be what they're known for. We ordered delivery, and felt pho would be more difficult to eat. However, all the things we ordered were far below expectations. Mostly just texture with no flavor.

    Spencer W.

    Quick standard pho shop Reasonable taste and price for the size. Small entrance so harder to find but opens up to a reasonable size shop

    108. Medium Rare Beef and Beef Balls Rice Noodle Soup
    Daniel H.

    Food: The pho here is okay tbh. I think the selling point of choo choo is their price point. At 14.75 for an X large bowl, it's a good amount of food for two people to share. The portions are huge. Service: The service here is standard. I think this place is Chinese owned. I've never heard any of the staff speak Vietnamese Ambience: The ambience in here is pretty lively, there's always a couple of people here when I'm eating.

    300. BBQ Chicken on Vermicelli
    Taylor Y.

    Stopped by on a Tuesday evening for dinner with a friend, and we were seated promptly. We were a little indecisive on what to order, but the server was informative and helped me choose a vermicilli dish with a few dietary substitutes! Both our dishes were delicious and large portions! Highly recommend the vermicilli noodle with chicken, it's super flavorful, fresh, and generous with the chicken. Overall great place and will be coming back!

    Pho

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    8 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Good food and good service. We had pho and grilled pork ball. Very laid back and relaxing place

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    I'm literally watching my associate use your finger to scoop up the remaining sauce, it's that good.

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    2 years ago

    The pho isn't the same as it used to be when it was owned by Vietnamese people. Large pho for $15.99.

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    Page 1 of 20

    Ask the Community - Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant

    Is the pho gluten free?

    There might be some ingredient in the soup are not gluten free.but the noodles are make from the rice. So rice noodle are gluten free. You can always ask the stuff for more gluten free information.

    Is it BYOB?

    No. They have a full bar with reasonable prices. I posted the 6.95 Manhattan cocktail I had there. A bargain compared to NYC. Beer was reasonable as well. But no BYOB

    Does Pho Xe Lua have vegan or vegetarian pho? Do they use MSG?

    They do have vegetarian pho.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House

    4.2(2.5k reviews)
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    We came here around 1pm on a Sunday and ordered the mapo tofu with noodles, the house special…read morenoodle soup, and a shrimp stir fry. This place was packed, which is always a good sign, and even with that the staff stayed super prompt and professional. The house special was my favorite. I got it with the knife-cut noodles and it was perfect with the broth. The noodles had that slightly uneven, chewy texture that really holds onto the soup. I never thought I'd be the type to talk about "mouthfeel" but here we are. The broth itself was rich and savory with a deep beef flavor, a little bit of oil on top that adds body without feeling too heavy. It's that classic, comforting Chinese beef noodle soup done really well. I added a braised egg, which had great flavor soaked into it, though it was served cold, which threw me off a bit. The mapo tofu with noodles was also really solid. It had that signature spicy, numbing kick from the Sichuan peppercorns, balanced with a savory, slightly salty sauce. The tofu was soft and silky, and mixing it with the noodles made it extra satisfying. It's got some heat but not overwhelming, just enough to keep you going back for another bite. The shrimp stir fry was lighter but still flavorful. The shrimp were cooked well, tender with a slight snap, and the sauce leaned more on the savory side with a mild sweetness. It felt like a nice balance alongside the heavier noodle dishes. Couple practical things: it's cash only, but there's an ATM right by the seating area which makes it easy. And the portions are generous for the price, so it feels like a really good deal. Overall, super satisfying spot. Busy, a little chaotic, but the food absolutely delivers. Definitely a go-to if you're craving hand-pulled noodles.

    Quick service and big portions Beef noodle soup- loved the…read moresoup, but the beef was a bit too fatty and didn't seem like regular "braised beef noodle soup brisket", more like hotpot slices of beef Stir fry noodles with roast pork- excellent noodle texture, good portion but a little salty

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    Dan Dan - Beef & Tripe in Chili Oil *

    Dan Dan

    4.0(1.1k reviews)
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    We've been coming here for a number of years and enjoy it consistently. The menu is extensive from…read morenoodle dishes, to Sechuan, and Taiwanese selections. The homemade DanDan noodles were our favorite, which are served with ground pork in a spicy peanut sauce. We also got the three cup chicken which was so good, with a sweet, licorice-like glaze. Some other favorites were the black pepper chicken and the long hot chicken, if you enjoy spice. We had the ginger and scallion dish and was not our favorite, as the chicken had a unique consistency and was quite limp. Overall, good service and a relaxing ambiance in a bustling city.

    My wife and I have been coming to Dan Dan Noodle since 2017, and it's remained one of our most…read morereliable go-to spots in the city. The food is consistently strong, and the signature dan dan noodles are a must-order. We also tend to get the chicken potstickers, scallion pancake, kung pao chicken, and dry pot beef, along with white rice for the table. It's a menu that rewards repeat visits. We've had both takeout and dine-in here, and we definitely prefer dining in. The food is at its best when it comes straight out of the kitchen. The staff is always friendly, helpful, and kind without being overbearing. For seating, we prefer the cozy but small upstairs dining area, so making a reservation on OpenTable is usually a good idea. There are a few high-top tables downstairs near the kitchen and windows, which are also great, but if you prefer a quieter or cozier spot, we think the upstairs is best. They also offer a happy hour with good prices, and overall, the value for the food quality is excellent. We often bring out-of-town guests, and it's always a hit. Sichuan cuisine remains distinct from typical American Chinese, which helps Dan Dan stand out. We've also noticed their Ardmore location, which appears to be a strong alternative. Consistently good, well-run, unique, and worth visiting, especially for the dan dan noodles. Highly recommended and hope to be back soon!

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    Chengdu Famous Food

    4.1(292 reviews)
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    Decent cuisine and friendly servers. Very authentic Chinese food. Every time I visit I always try…read moreto order something different. And It never disappoint. Will visit again.

    Totally legit authentic Sichuan restaurant right in University City. Place is filled mostly with…read morelocal regulars and students (mostly Asian, but now seemingly "discovered" by the cosmopolitan set). Spicy, numbing and, yes also the right level of oily-ness that comes with some of the traditional dishes. Just go with whatever they recommend (even though they have QR menus mainly), but we loved our dumpling in chili oil appetizer, the beef stew, spicy crisped chicken (lazhiji) and spicy tofu. Chengdu Famous Food has created the right balance of cuisine authenticity, hole-in-wall-ness, and hipster vibe... all undeliberately. An absolute gem. Service was friendly. Can see this place being overrun during peak hours, as it was already a bit busy even at 5pm midweek. Lots of takeout business too but fortunately there are seatings available for 20-25 diners. The shop is in a nice area of the revitalized Powelton/Drexel/University City area across from a few new developments with reasonable street parking in the area. Absolutely a go-to if in the area, and may be worth driving a bit to if in the Greater Philly region.

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    Tataki Ramen & Sushi

    Tataki Ramen & Sushi

    4.3(32 reviews)
    2.0 miPowelton Village, University City

    Not a bad spot on Drexel's campus! I got three different rolls - they're very cheap but also on the…read moresmaller side! The interior is clean and well decorated. Service was lovely as well.

    I am very upset with my last experience at this establishment, after going for close to 8 years…read morethrough name changes (and I'll assume ownership changed hands) for both at one point weekly sit down service for a few months to now pick-up. I ordered my usual ramen and two sushi rolls to split with my partner, and ordered through here on yelp through DoorDash. Because of a system issue, my food was ordered twice (after paying it said there was a system error and it couldn't be completed and my cart was still full and after it happened twice I figured something was really wrong.) I had a sense something was weird, and had my partner call ahead to assure there was only ONE order, and otherwise cancel the second immediately, which he did. When I got there there were 2 orders, and the restaurant smilingly said it was already made and wanted to give me both bags. They REFUSED to cancel an order or to talk to DoorDash directly. I insisted on calling DoorDash in the store to make sure I got a refund because I couldn't afford to pay double for my food and risk it (what would be $84 for one bowl of soup and two sushi rolls.) After 45 minutes on the phone, and now cold soup and warm sushi to bring home, I was assured I would get my money back in "a few days." It has now been two months and I have not received a refund. I have been going here for years, and very upset on this lack of oversight on the restaurants part. I think they mostly interact with college students that are passive and they can manipulate. The restaurant said it was my fault because I used the ordering service they provided through yelp like I should have known better not to use it (and again, I've ordered online here many times!) They made my favorite ramen, but the countless hours I have now spent on very expensive cold soup and warm sushi-- I will not return until this is rectified. Other comparable restaurants that make ramen in other areas of the city of the same size will send me a full refund for a drink just for sending me the wrong flavor! it's so loud in the restaurant to even have a conversation or be on the phone to communicate when the issue happened (again college scene and club music.)

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    Tataki Ramen & Sushi
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    Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant - vietnamese - Updated May 2026

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