I've been wanting to try Rush Hour Station for quite a while, but it just never happens. When meeting a buddy for lunch he recommended it and I jumped for the chance. RHS bills itself as 'Vietnamese Fusion' and I have no idea what that might mean, but it was good. Very good. We went on a cold day, so eating on the outside deck wasn't an option. The interior is a basic strip mall location with a decent number of tables and plenty of seating, albeit a bit cramped. It's counter service, so it pays to take a look at the menu in advance and know what you want before you arrive. Paid at the counter, and they came to our table with the food very quickly. I had the 'Be Kind to Each Other' Chicken Pho which came with the usual sides of sprouts, basil, lime and noodles. You could upgrade your noodles if you wanted. I also added an order of cajun fries, which doesn't really seem like a 'Vietnamese Fusion' choice, but I love cajun fries so who was I to question them? The Pho was terrific. Loved it. The fries were very very good, though maybe a bit generous on the cajun. Still very good, and I definitely will return for this meal again. Friend ordered the Spam Banh Mi. Seriously???? Well, he did. And he said it was very good. You actually pay $0.50 extra for spam. Again, not sure what world you pay extra for the Spam but he did it. He selected the Fire Engine Tim sauce, which was to be spicy. When I pressed him for more details on the quality he said it could be spicier even with that sauce, but otherwise it was very good. He said to point out on Yelp that "That Diet Coke was clutch" - he may have been making fun of my questioning :) All in all a very good experience and I'll definitely return. I don't find much good pho in Bloomington, so it's nice to have a place for that. I won't be eating Spam anytime soon. I'm giving 4 stars only because the seating was a bit cramped and it was busy inside. I would go 4.5 if it weren't in a strip mall and pretty 'basic' ambiance. And that canned Diet Coke is clutch! read more

Rush Hour Station - Spam Banh Mi - Asian Fusion Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

See all

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots for a quick meal in town. The menu is Asian fusion, mainly Vietnamese and Thai. There's a lot of choices on the menu and many entrees are customizable with your choice of protein and/or sauce. The place is very vegan/vegetarian-friendly; they have a handful of vegan protein options and most sauces are vegan, if you do try to order a non-vegan sauce with a vegan protein, they'll check to make sure that's okay, vegannaise is available for banh mi, and they will also remove the egg from the entrees containing egg AND take off the price of the egg. Their food may not be totally traditional but I really enjoy it. The level of "authenticity" will vary depending on what you order and which sauces you get in the customizable entrees. Their banh mi bread is different from the banh mi bread I'm used to but I actually like it a lot more. It's crustier and more tender than the usual banh mi bread, closer to a French-style baguette. They stack on lots of fresh veggies. The tofu is thinly-sliced and fried for tenderness that gives it a somewhat similar texture to deli meat. You can also get any banh mi combo as a wrap with the same ingredients, and while the wrap is good for a change of pace, I have to say I prefer the banh mi because the bread is so good. Their other entrees are also delicious and come in hefty portions. Their mapo tofu is the best vegetarian mapo tofu I've ever had. I usually get a Thai iced tea when I come here. It's strong and just the right amount of sweet. I appreciate the oat milk option! I recently tried the Thai iced coffee and that was also really good. Lastly, the staff who work here are very friendly! It seems like a small operation but they work efficiently so I've never had to wait too long for my order! The only thing that's left to be desired here is that everything is served in takeaway containers and they only have plastic cutlery (except spoons for some reason), but I don't know what they're dealing with in terms of capacity to use actual dining ware, so I am not letting that affect my rating. read more

See all

Service was fast. Explanation of food great! Fish sauce could have more flavor, a bit bland and meat was a bit over done. Well worth the trip!! read more

I was so excited to have a Bhan Mí sandwich here in Bloomington. I lived in Denver for two years and helped open a Vietnamese Bhan Mí restaurant while living there, So I was really looking forward to having one since moving back home. I got the Lemon grass pork Bhan Mí. It was so unbearably salty that I couldn't even finish it. The Jalapeños had no spice and the over all experience was just mediocre. Kinda disappointed to say the least. read more

Went here tonight for an early dinner. I've never had Bahn Mi before and was pleasantly surprised. It was very yummy! My partner got the #3 Chicken Lemongrass combo and I got the #4 tofu wendale combo and they were both great. We also got the special of the day, goyza which was good, I could've eaten so much more. My partner got the Cajun fries as a side (delish) and I got a salad (nothing special). The combos also came with canned sodas. The server was super knowledgeable and helpful when navigating the menu. We will definitely come back! read more

Rush Hour Station - #4 Tofu Wendale - Asian Fusion Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Nice place to go, but just when students aren't in town. Highly recommend summer rolls, they are delicious (all combinations) Make sure you ask for extra peanut sauce (if you are not allergic) read more

The Bánh Mi (Asian BBQ Beef) was okay. Nothing memorable. Seasoned okay. But you won't go back for it. Kajun fries are good. Thai Tea (w/ Oat Milk) is not good. It's mostly coloring. Three of this take-out cost just below $18. Not worth it. The service is top knotch though. The host is very attentive. read more

Probably the best bahn mi in Bloomington. Definitely will be going back multiple times

Fried rice are really good. But was looking for Pho, total disappointment, it is a hard dish to please. Will come back and try fried rice again. read more

Such a perfect meal for a cold and rainy day touring IU's campus!!! My daughter is a huge fan of Pho but often can't find a vegetarian version. Rush Hour had SEVERAL options for her. The Pho was warm, comforting, and had a delicious flavor. Plenty of toppings and hot sauce made for an ideal lunch. We also shared veggie fried rice (yum) and a Vietnamese Iced Coffee. If she ends up at IU I see many meals here in our future! read more

Rush Hour Station - Pho - Asian Fusion Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

See all

Decided to try another Pho place when I was passing through B-town. Not bad. The little place was clean and the folks were friendly and helpful. They offer a little of everything, but I tried the Pho w/chicken, as this is my usual. The broth was very good, the noodles were, too. The chicken was a little bland, though, which is a common problem at a lot of the places I've been. It's worth a stop for a Pho-fix. I'll be back. read more

Service was good and the gentleman taking orders was a good sales man. However, the food was over priced and under flavored. Not traditional Vietnamese at all. This is my second time going there and most likely my last. Underwhelmed by the food. read more

Horrendous quality in 2024. Ordered the Pho and the soup was very obviously just watered down. The meatballs were actually frozen Italian meatballs from the store instead of the Vietnamese style ones you'd expected. Not even an exaggeration. They actually are. Beef was overcooked and were clumped in balls. The restaurant used to be alright before, but this is just sad now. I ordered doordash, but while I might expect less food or it being cold, the quality should at least be the same. Never ordering from this place again. Also they have severely reduced the amount of food you get. I'm not sure what changed, but dang. read more

Rush Hour Station - a bowl of noodles and meatballs - Asian Fusion Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Cheap and delicious food. A Bloomington staple. The banh mi and Thai coffee are great.

I've been here a few times and I've gotten the same thing every time expecting it to be less salty. Most times I get it through DoorDash BUT i went in today. I got the Asian barbecue because I usually think it's gonna have some type of barbecue flavor but it doesn't. In fact, it's way too salty. This is one of the worst Vietnamese places I've ever had in my life. Go anywhere else in Bloomington when it comes to Asian food and you will probably be more satisfied when it comes to your money. The service was low because I tried to get a different item as I was unsatisfied with my order, even though the waiter knew it was super salty as an order. He sent me away not satisfied and with more salty teriyaki sauce that made it even worse. DONT GET THE ASIAN BBQ UNLESS YOU WANT HYPERTENSION read more

everything is delicious: banh mi, pho, sides, entrees. vegan and non vegan options are equally good. always the same two guys working, and they are very kind and helpful. great local restaurant. read more

The best service in Bloomington. These guys deserve every penny they get. Good food too - I Highly recommend eating here.

AWFUL! TERRIBLE! Not Worth your CA$H! Not Worth a Visit! This is NOT VIETNAMESE FOOD! This is NOT VIETNAMESE FUSION! Pho is about the broth! This pho tastes like bullion with a ton of fish sauce! No Complexity! Its served in a plastic to-go container that's barely 1/3 full. Traditional Vietnamese restaurants fill to-go containers to the top! You will walk away DISSATISFIED! This is not Bahn Mi folks! They use a hoagie type bread that's soft - so wrong! The bread should be crisp, thin crust, (soft inside) baguette! The Meat is not marinated and therefore lacks favor! They use the same protein in the Pho. The contents of the Banh Mi is so bad, so wrong! Spend you cash at another place that's truly worth your experience! read more

Rush Hour is a clutch spot for a fast, delicious bite! For having such a wide variety of options, everything I've had here has been consistently really good. They also lowkey have some of the best crab rangoons in town. read more

A hidden gem! The pork banh mi w/ korean was so yummy and ordering at the counter & takeout was easy and fast. read more

Rush Hour Station - Pork dumplings - Asian Fusion Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

See all

I really liked the pho! The service was nice. I ordered to go and everything was packed nicely

When I first moved to Bloomington, I was convinced that Rush Hour Station was a hole-in-the wall dry cleaners. As such, I never really paid it any mind until I attended a luncheon that included a sampler platter of their bánh mì sandwiches. After trying the Chicken Lemongrass and Tofu WenDale, I was hooked and knew that I had to make Rush Hour Station a staple in my lunch rotation. Ever since then, I've more or less ordered the same thing every time I visit - a pork lemongrass bánh mì with an order of French fries generously seasoned with salt and pepper. Overall, their sandwiches are simple and delicious. They start off with a warm, crusty baguette topped with pate, marinated meat (or tofu), cucumber, carrot, cilantro, mayo, sautéed onion, and freshly sliced jalapeño with the seeds still intact (optional). They also provide a variety of condiments for folks who would like to kick the spice factor up a notch (e.g. Sriracha and Sambal). Every day they have a different item - or combination of items - on special, but you can usually get a discount for ordering a sandwich, soda, and fries. And there is always a discount for paying with cash, which can be nice if you actually remember to carry cash around with you! Since the dining room is small, it can be difficult to get a table if you're visiting the restaurant in *peak* lunch or dinner hours. However, diners are usually pretty good about making room or sharing space if needed. Overall, this is a fast, inexpensive place to grab a quick meal or to-go order. The dining room and the food have a "no frills" attitude, which complements the fresh, tasty, and unpretentious foods they serve. read more

Rush Hour Station - Pork lemongrass bánh mì with a side of French fries. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I'm a huge fan of Vietnamese food so I decided to pass by Rush Hour Station on my way back to Indy and it did not disappoint. Friendly staff, nice atmosphere, and great quality food. I would definitely come back again. read more

I loved the spicy noodles here as I was visiting from out of town. My wife had the chicken pho. We both enjoyed the lunch here and told our son to try it while he was living here for the summer. read more

I made the mistake of coming here one more time, after each of my bad experiences, because my friend loves this place and it's close to her house. She was late so I ordered a beer to enjoy while waiting on her to arrive. Service was friendly at the counter where you order and we built up a rapport about tattoos & stuff. I was the only customer there. When my friend arrived, I left all my things on the table in plain view, including my purse, keys, & phone, to say hi. She wanted to sit outside, so I started to take a peek with her at patio tables. I felt comfortable leaving my things behind since I was the only customer there. However, the server did not feel comfortable with this plan at all, and shouted YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT!!!! He literally started running outside after us, even though we were walking pretty slowly. As if I was going to steal the beer while leaving my purse, keys, and phone in plain view on the table. I get that he was a college aged kid, but being accused of stealing was infuriating. Especially after all the friendly chit chat that proceeded this. It made the whole thing feel fake and slimy. Not genuine at all. I debated whether I should leave (after paying, OBVIOUSLY), because I was upset. I had to explain to this server that I was not stealing, and was simply helping my friend to select a table outside. And was planning to order food. My friend seemed unphased so we still ordered food and dined there, but I was so upset by the interaction that I couldn't enjoy my food at all (and it wasn't that amazing anyway). I still remember it vividly 3 years later as one of the most infuriating, humiliating, and upsetting customer service experiences I've ever had. I can officially say I will never ever be back. read more

Went after class and the staff was very friendly and made my bahn mi very fast. I asked what pate was and he informed me what it was and it was very good ! read more

Recently discovered this place after searching for Vietnamese food in Bloomington and found this place. Once inside, the menu was easy to read and had a wide variety of options. The cashier was superb and explained the menu, popular dishes, and the history of the place itself. He did a great job of explaining some of the aspects of Vietnamese cooking that can be offsetting to most people like the smell of fish sauce and the classical way of letting beef cook in a broth such as pho. I had the Asian BBQ Banh Mi which was amazing; the sauce used provided acidity and umami while the fresh vegetables made the sandwich more vibrant. My friend ordered the You Complete Me pho; the broth was rich and the beef was super tender. Overall, it was a great experience and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a Vietnamese place in Bloomington! read more

Rush Hour Station - Asian Pork Asian BBQ Sandwich - Asian Fusion Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

See all

The food is amazing! The first time I came I actually returned that same day because I loved it so much. However, the hours are so frustrating. What's frustrating is that although I've tried to come 7 times since then, I've only actually successfully eaten here 3 times. The schedule is always changing. The only way to find out is through their ever-changing door posts. We once came 20 minutes before closing and wanted carry out. They told us the kitchen started closing 15 mins before the restaurant. Basically you couldn't get food... while they were open? They now have a sign that says that. The food is great! Just wish they would be more active online so their hours were easier to know. If they are open and you're in town, the food is 5 stars. Call to make sure they're open though Edit: 6.5.19. Not sure how long they've been doing it because I haven't been here for a spell but they've updated their hours to a more consistent time. They are now open 11:30-7:30 unless posted otherwise! read more

Rush Hour is a great place to grab a quick meal and is one of the few places in Bloomington that offers a Vietnamese style menu. I will say, though, it is very loosely Vietnamese - don't expect authenticity. The menu is chock full of delightful names, and there are plenty of options to customize orders. The main dishes are Pho inspired soup dishes and Bahn Mi style sandwiches. You customize by choosing your protein and (for sandwiches) sauce. I typically order the soup dish "Anger Management" which is a rice noodles soup with a spicy soy peanut broth(not really very spicy). I recommend a veggie protein (mushroom or tofu) as the meats often come off bland. The soup is great, but it will disappoint anyone expecting Pho. Probably the biggest downside to Rush Hour are the hours. They are entirely unpredictable - to the point that they often change the hours the day of and only let the public know via Facebook or a sign on the door. They also close midday from like 3-5 for some reason. I often go there to find it is closed. Another negative - they charge for weird stuff. Today the cashier tried to charge us for an extra lime wedge. So ridiculous! The main woman who works there is a bit odd (mostly just poor customer service skills) but she's been there a while and is likely very good with the menu. Just a bit standoffish. Overall I recommend Rush Hour! It's quick and, when it's open, tasty! read more

One of my all-time favorite restaurants in Bloomington, although I will say that's only based on getting the veggie gyoza bahn mi over and over again because it's so amazing! Also always go for the thai tea. They're super quick and everyone has always been nice. I haven't been for a few months, but their covid precautions always made me feel safe earlier in the pandemic. They were still doing takeout only even when other places were opening up their dining rooms. There's a nice little patio too. Please try Rush Hour Station!! read more

This place is absolutely fantastic. I was a little put off to try this place as it is in an old strip mall. But this little gem is a definite place to check out. They have a great number of different meats for your sandwich. They can cater to all taste. They have a lot of different sauces you can put on sandwich. I like the spicy Wendale sauce. It makes a great Bahn Mi. You've never had a Bahn-Mi? you havent lived. Rush Hour does not make the best sandwich but they do make beat sandwich for the price. I love their cajun fries. You can also get really good stir fried noodle or soup. The broth on the soup is very savory. i really like the soup. I was disappointed in the noodles but that is just because I really like their sandwiches. The noodles did not hit the spot the way their sandwiches do. Highly recommend read more

We're longtime residents of Bloomington and have eaten at Rush Hour many times over the years. I had noticed diminished quality just prior to an ownership change. Sadly, while I believe the proprietors are sincere in continuing a local tradition, this is a gentrified imitation of Vietnamese cuisine. After my first visit after the ownership change, I resolved not to return her for a while in hopes that the issues I encountered were the result of a transition. I have eaten here twice in the last week. On both occasions, my order of Drunken Noodles has largely been lacking ... the noodles! This evening, my spouse became ill to her stomach shortly after leaving the restaurant (I shared her meal and also am feeling the effects, although not to the same degree). All of this is unfortunate. Rush Hour aspires to provide flavorful food at a value. Under the previous owners, it usually succeeded. I hope my review offers constructive advice. There is room for improvement. read more

Pretty good food. Small place. Good Vietnamese and Thai selections. Reasonable prices on most stuff. Not formal, not quiet, a good place for a quick bite or late lunch. Gives a discount for cash. Freshly prepared, good flavors. Parking out front, not parking meters. Very fast service. Not amazing, but really good. read more

How have I lived in BTown for four years and never been? Wow! The chicken bahn mi hit the spot. Only complaint is the ginger dressing is pretty weak so don't get a salad. Prices are worth it and plenty of parking. You have to call ahead to order read more

Stopped in for the Pho. It was really delicious and the tacos were really great too. At first I Was afraid to eat here, because of the name being so American. But you should run, not walk here! It's authentic, clean and friendly in this place. read more

This spot always gives excellent service with excellent food. Great pho, bahn mi, and crab rangoon. Will definitely be coming here again!

Food is so good. Everything I've tried is bangin. There's always something good to eat for any kind of mood. The meals are noticeably less salty than other restaurants of the same cuisine in the area while being even more delicious. It must be due to great technique and ingredients. Very friendly staff too! read more

Rush Hour Station - Drunken Noodles - Asian Fusion Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Wow. Just wow. Their crab rangoons burnt my mouth but I didn't care because it was absolutely delicious. I had the massaman curry. Are you kidding? It was perfect. The sauce was *chefs kiss* and the chicken ratio was satisfactory. The peanut aspect was delicious. I don't know if I could order anything else. Will you? read more

This review is based only on the Banh Mi from Rush Hour, and it is a special one. Fantastic sandwich! The right amount of crunch, softness, freshness, saltiness, sweetness, hint of zest... It had everything. Nice, tender and moist chicken, crunchy vegetables, cilantro, just right. read more

Another good place to go when you seek something fast and delicious. The dishes are Asian style. I like their Pho noodles and BBQ sandwiches. The flavor is kind of special and you will miss the taste occasionally. read more