One of my favorite spots in my hometown. Service is quick and friendly and food is consistently good. They're never busy so it's an easy quick sit down lunch or dinner. And you always have leftovers! I recommend the beef or chicken pho. The spring rolls are a great appetizer as well. If you're into coffee, get the iced latte with sweetened condensed milk - it's both a drink and experience! Everyone is so sweet here and although the place is simply decorated and some would say outdated, I find it calming and nostalgic. I'll be back! read more

Phong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

See all

Tasty food, good pricing, fast service, would come back! The building does look like an old business office turned into a restaurant. read more

See all

Quick little walk from the downtown hotel. The owner is so nice and the menu not lengthy to get bogged down in if one isn't used to Vietnamese cuisine. Delicious and fresh. I'll definitely be back read more

Phong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Stopped in for a quick bite, service was fast and atmosphere was sweet and peaceful. The food was delicious and the egg rolls and crab Rangoon were top tier. Would 100% recommend! read more

See all

Was craving pho today and this spot did not disappoint, not from around here so I didn't have crazy expectations for Asian food but the pho here is comparable to back in Cali. The service was fast and it felt really cozy inside. Woman that was working the front was super friendly. read more

Phong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant - Pho Dac Biet - Vietnamese Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

My family and friends have been going here for years. I love how you really feel like you're stepping into another country the moment you enter the door. Everyone here is humble and friendly and the food is both delicious and a great value. We hope they never leave and there's also an Asian grocery store next door. read more

Great food, the service was exceptional, family run place. The young lady that served us was very friendly and recommended spice level etc according to our tastes. Don't miss this little gem if you like authentic Vietnamese. read more

Food was delicious and service was incredible!! our server was sweet and attentive. cannot recommend highly enough!!!

Like the owner was, coming straight to the point. Authentic cute little place in downtown Cedar Rapids. Been here in CR for over 30 years and is passionate about selling a real good meal. I had tofu wraps so fresh and tender with awesome peanut sauce. I had a vegetarian meal and was a treat for my eye looking him wearing gloves and being protective about his customers and himself. I will stop by to try their Pho. overall a cozy place with great variety of food. read more

Phong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant - Spring roll - Vietnamese Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

See all

Not that it's hard to find, but Phong Lan is off the beaten path while still being in 'downtown' Cedar Rapids. It has a clean, rustic vibe to it if you catch my drift. It's not fancy by any stretch of the imagination, but the menu is large, with vegetarian options, and the service is very friendly. I always find it funny that the menu items, while unpronounceable are given numbers. Not whole numbers mind you, but decimalized numbers. The prices are very reasonable. I generally get the steak vermicelli served on a bed of lettuce. It is so very fresh, so enjoyable. read more

Still trash. They always mess up orders do not come here. They don't listen to allergies. They don't listen ever. It's really frustrating especially when you love Vietnamese food read more

I love this place! Food is always good and seems authentic, not that I really know. Enjoy!

Found this hidden gem while visiting Iowa, loved the shrimp pho and spring rolls. Good value too! Family owned and operated, very vintage. It was very quiet when we were there so I think a bit of music could help the ambiance but overall good experience, we would def recommend. read more

Phong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

The food was meh. I ordered the spring rolls and they tasted like they had been laying out. The paper was hard and vegetables didn't taste fresh. But I would have felt with that. What I couldn't deal with was their service. It was TERRIBLE! My server, an older gentleman, completely rushed me and wouldn't give me enough time to look over the menu. Then when I finally ordered, I asked for a side plate for my sauce, so I could enjoy my pho and he told me to use my old plate-what?! I am so glad I was only passing through, and this isn't my neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant. I would not recommend anyone going. read more

The food was some of the piece I've ever had, and everyone was super nice!!! Also, the restaurant was incredibly cheap, I totally recommend going there!!! read more

We stumbled upon Phong Lan, and decided to give it a try. First impression-CLEAN restaurant. Even the condiments were clean! We had shrimp egg rolls, beef and meatball pho and vegetable pho. Portions were more than we could eat. The broth was not as flavorful as some, but were easily seasoned to perfection at the table. The man who served us was very attentive. I'd go again. read more

See all

This place is a joke. We went there a few days ago and ordered the beef combination pho, the soup is super salty, the portion was so small, almost like a kid's meal, with no beef taste at all, I feel like they just use lots of MSG and the beef powder for the soup base, the meat is almost super hard, they also sliced their beef balls into small tiny pieces, also No tendon even though it said it has in the menu. This got to me one of the WORST pho restaurants I have ever been to in my life. Save your money, don't go there. The instant pho noodle cup that you get from a local grocery taste much better than their pho. Awful experience! All those 5 stars reviews are further from the truth, don't believe it!!! read more

I have deemed Pho the CURE for a head cold, winter sickness or weekend of overindulging. And these guys do it TO PERFECTION! The meatball is my fav, have done the veggie a few times too. I often have enough to get two meals which just means double the goodness. Spring rolls are delish too - love the shrimp and pork for added heartiness. Only eaten at the restaurant once (Its a handy to-go option for us to pick up after work) and I ventured away from the pho when I did. Can't say I liked that dish nearly as much, mediocre in comparison to other spots where I'd order a plated meal. But will give it a try again sometime if I ever don't want Pho (like that'll happen!). read more

Phong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant - We love Pho as a to-go option! I add extra veg (the perks of to-go). Meatball is my FAV - & gimme ALL the basil and a touch of for heat. - Vietnamese Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I want to give this restaurant 5 stars, but the one thing it can really improve on is having multiple sizes for the pho- it's so delicious that the size they have right now just isn't enough. If you're looking for high quality pho that was clearly made with love and fresh ingredients, this is the place to go. I've been going here periodically for date nights and have NEVER gotten anything less than fresh. The service is amazing, and the owner is so sweet. But back to the pho. Here's the breakdown: Broth- really flavorful and delicious. It's something you can't find in soup that wasn't made with care. It has a range of flavors and is still amazing on its own. Noodles- a good amount of noodles per bowl. Not over or underwhelming. I do like more on the noodley side, but this all plays together well. Meat- I always get the beef, and my boyfriend used to get beef and tendon. THEY DONT PUT TENDON IN THE SOUP. It doesn't cost any extra to order beef and tendon, but it is something to note. The meat is definitely flavorful and fresh. Additives- the basil is always super fresh, and the fact that they use Thai chili peppers is a bonus. They give you a good amount of everything you'd want to put in. There are a variety of sauces you can add in at the table as well. IF YOU LIKE IT SPICY, YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR CHILI OIL. They don't have it at the table. I usually get the pho, and other than that I've only had the fried rice on the menu (which is also phenomenal) Give it a try! read more

Great people who have been doing this for a long time. I lived in NYC and had access to great pho near Chinatown, and their bowls are on par. Fast and friendly service and a lot of room to sit. Try the combination, it's excellent! Crab rangoon are great too. read more

I am a big fan and critic of Pho but this place was awesome! It gives off "hole in the wall" vibes in the best way. I got Pho Ga (chicken) and the flavor was spot on. My boyfriend got the beef Vermicelli and he absolutely loved it. We also got egg rolls which were really good, as well. For those that write negative reviews bc of service, there is literally one server (I believe the owner) so obviously you're going to have to be a little patient. I think he did great though, the food came out really fast. Seriously check this place out! read more

In the same vein as many of the previous Yelpers, this is a very good find in a really nice place for the area! I meandered on in on a lazy Friday afternoon when I got off work a little bit early. They open at 11 and arriving at 11:30 I was seated quickly. The digs here are very humble, and super reminiscence of a mom and pop type place. Plenty of Asian inspired artwork and statues on the walls set the stage for what was the delicious experience. The menu seemed to showcase plenty of different dishes, however I came for the Pho! There were seven or eight different types of the soup including the standards like chicken and meat ball, as well as a seafood themed dish but they seemed pretty excited about. The standard accoutrements are at your table and included fish sauce, hoisin sauce, and sriracha. The soup is served in a standard large ball and comes in one size. It's not big enough to bathe a small animal in, but it would be large enough for a small fish to comfortably hang out in for a while. The broth was good, but had a little bit different flavor than I'm used to. It almost taste it a little seafood and I wonder if it had remnants of the seafood soup that they had been talking about. It was nothing overpowering, and not something that would keep me from coming back. The noodles were plentiful, the standard sides of bean sprouts, basil leaves and a lime or included not everywhere includes the sides so they get points for having the standards! I had the beef and meatball soup and it was tasty! Good amount of meat, but not so much that it seems like you're eating broth that numerous animals are also enjoying. Each bowl ran about 8:50, and was totally worth it for the price. I also enjoy the delightful cup of tea which was something like $0.95. This is a really solid place to enjoy some delicious pho! The serving sizes are excellent, and not too big. The meat and noodles are done very nicely and the ambiance is absolutely what I hope for when I go to a place like this. If you're a fan of Vietnamese noodle soup, you owe it to yourself to check this place out! read more

Phong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

This may just be my favorite restaurant ever. They have quality, home-cooked, Vietnamese dishes that never disappoint. I have been going here for years and always have a great experience whether I am dining in or taking out. The restaurant is always quiet and clean and the servers attend to you quickly. It may not be the most decorated place but it is a reliable choice. read more

Amazing authentic Vietnamese food! We live in Denver and this is better than any Pho we have eaten there! Highly recommend

I wanted Pho Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised to find this place. Lots of parking available, friendly fast service, great spring rolls, and the Pho was very good. And the price was very affordable! The only thing I would recommend is to offer more of a beer list. A choice of four and none of them were Asian beers. read more

Phong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Incredible food. The wontons are the best in town. The shrimp egg rolls had me wishing we got TWO orders instead of one-off the charts quality! Shrimp fried rice was quite good. Definitely becoming a regular stop for me... read more

Best Pho' ever, I've had Pho' many places and nothing compares to this place. Local, authentic, no frills, owners running the show front and back. Also definitely recommend the fried rice, spring rolls, and Rangoon's. read more

Love this place, an old favorite! The owner is the sweetest man and the service is stellar. Do not think twice about going here, worth your money! read more

Those springs rolls come very tightly wrapped, but they provide a wonderfully flavorful bite. Let's just say that if there were to be a special on the spring rolls, you wouldn't get any because I would buy ALL. THE. ROLLS! The pho took a bit to arrive, but having pleasant company after a long week kept me patient. The wife ordered Pho Ga, essentially chicken rice noodle soup. The chicken was tender and the broth was pretty delicious. She did want to use the provided basil and citrus to get the taste exactly where she wanted it. I ordered the Bun Bo Hue, spicy beef with pork and vermicelli. It was the first really cold day this Fall in CR and I was looking for some heat. The front of house server was very pleasant. At one point, he double-checked what spice level we were good with. Even so, my nose was a waterfall. He later came up and talked about how good their broth was for congestion -no kidding! I regret nothing -except not asking for more napkins. I still feel the call of that pho on every cold day so far... read more

Great food and service! I had Vietnamese iced coffee, crab rangoons, and the house pho. I will definitely be back. read more

See all

Being far from a variety of Vietnamese noodle houses, I was really happy to have found this place in Iowa. It has all the Pho, rice and vermicelli dishes typically found at Vietnamese restaurants. The owners of this joint are definitely Vietnamese as you can hear them talking loudly to each other in the kitchen, even from where I was sitting at the furthest part of the restaurant. They're friendly with the customers though. I'm almost sure that the patrons (majority Caucasian) are wondering about what the fight is back there. Their pho soup is acceptable, and has most the ingredients (except for brisket) their spring rolls aren't plump and that great though. They've got sauces and chopsticks at the table (which should be customarily wiped eventhough they look clean). They do have a fish sauce that is named "Cock" which I find funny. no vietnamese sandwiches though. Compared to other fusion or Asian places that serve pho in CRapids or Iowa City, I think this place is the most authentic. If I was critiquing it against other Vietnamese restaurants in CA, I'd give it 2.5 stars. But in Iowa???! This is soulfood yo. read more

See all

Another good pho find. Loved the broth, nice flavor to it not much too fat had a great taste to it that went down easy. Noodles were good, could have used a few more though. The beef was cooked perfect and was of a good grade of beef. They do give smaller portions of basil and sprouts, which is alright for me since I don't use them all. They had these small cut up peppers that from now on I want. They were way better than the jalapeno slices in my opinion. Also had eggrolls as usual, pretty good with homemade sauce. Our drinks were the limeade drink, was good for the price, not overly sweet so you can adjust if needed and Denise got the passion fruit slushy which was really delicious. I really liked this place and will have to drive here for my pho since Iowa City/Coralville doesn't have a place yet. Worth the short drive for any pho fan that is "pho'ening phor phonomal pho" :) read more

Literally the best, authentic Vietnamese food in town. If it's your first time and you're not adventurous, the 8.1 Egg Roll Bun with Pork is a great place to start. read more

This seems to be one of those unknown places in town. Whenever I mention it to anyone I get a blank look, seems like no one knows its here. Service is always great and the food is delicious. Its not fancy by any means, but the food and service make up for it. read more

The broth that was part of my meal has more depth and layers of flavor than I could shake a stick at. It is incredible. I love how part of the meal comes out deconstructed so you can control your own flavor profile. Add the water sprouts or don't add them, add a few or add a lot...It's your call. The slab of perfected chicken that comes along with the meal was good. Mine was a little dry but when you're throwing it into the worlds great soup - dryness isn't a deal breaker for me. Our wait to have our order taken and for our food to be delivered was a little long but there was only one person working the front of the house and he also doubled as our waiter. Overall it was delicious and surprising. Highly recommend that you add it to your food bucket list and try pho! read more

Phong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant - Pho chicken - Vietnamese Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Have been eating here with my family for many many years. The best spring rolls and pho in the area. Service is always excellent.

By Midwestern small town standards, Phong Lan satisfied cold weather soup cravings, but I thought they totally missed the mark in many areas. Spring rolls were a safe choice. Pho was average - it's a weak broth, but with the various spices and fresh meat, it sort of came together. Their house vegetable specialties mix turned out to be unseasoned meat with mostly canned vegetables in a pool of watery sauce - worst offense was everything was overcooked so meat was dry and vegetables mushy. If I'm a below average cook and have made better stir fry than this, I had to rate this on the same scale. read more

So it's been almost 4 years since I've been here. Probably be that long before I go back again. I had the curry and it was so mild (even with the little peppers by it on the menu) and bland that I didn't even finish my portion. Daughter had Pho. Broth was so bland and the noodles were nothing to write home about. I've had better from Noodles and Co. Service...took our order, dropped off food, and didn't check back. When we went up to pay, he responded, "done already?" Perhaps if he hadn't been sitting down eating and watching soccer he would have noticed that himself. read more

This place is delicious. The pho is unmatched. My personal favorite is the seafood soup

As a long time patron, I can say without hesitation that this is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Cedar Rapids! The variety of authentic Vietnamese cuisine is always made fresh and delicious. There is never a wait here and you can walk right in and get a seat. The restaurant is family run, and they treat their customers with genuine hospitality. I recommend the spring rolls as an appetizer, and a bowl of the Pho as an entree. Whether eating with a fork, a spoon, or chopsticks, Phong Lan always hits the spot. read more

Phong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa