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Le's Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
36 JFK StCambridge, MA 02138
Neighborhood: Harvard Square
(617) 864-4100
- Nearest Transit:
-
Brattle St @ Massachusetts Ave (86)
Massachusetts Ave @ Holyoke St - Holyoke Gate (1, 68, 69)
Harvard Upper Busway @ Red Line (71, 72, 72/75, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 86, 96)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
324 reviews for Le's Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Their pho is amazing as well."
(in 202 reviews)
"It's a gem within Harvard Square."
(in 48 reviews)
"YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM --- with peanut sauce."
(in 12 reviews)
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324 reviews in English
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Review from Michael P.
Cambridge, MA
1/7/2012
Le's is totally my go-to place for pho in the Cambridge area. Despite my numerous visits, I've never strayed far from my usual order:
* Appetizer: Fresh spring rolls. Quite the delight; it refreshes your palette before chomping down on a hot bowl of pho. It comes with two, so share it with a friend.
*Main attraction: Pho! You can't go wrong with any of the combos. The broth is well-seasoned and flavorful. Throw in a bunch of basil, sprouts, and a spoonful of chili paste to crank up the heat and you've got yourself one mean bowl of pho. Also, be economic and just go for the medium-size (the small size is ~$1 cheaper but the portion size isn't accurately scaled)
They also have a chicken and vegetarian options for those with dietary restrictions. -
Review from Alan C.
San Jose, CA
2/9/2012
I might be spoiled by pho from California, but this was just not that good.
They give you a lot of noodles in a huge bowl (large order) and the broth itself was okay. The flavor was just that standard pho broth taste. I got a combo, so it should come with all of the different parts, and it did, (sort of). The beef tendons I got came out to be 2 tiny pieces and I ended up with a lot of tripe. I was full by the end of it because of how much they give you).
The service left a lot to be desired. Despite the fact that I had finished my glass of water 6 minutes into dinner, they never came by to refill it. In fact, he walked past our table with the pitcher in hand at least 7 times throughout the night and not once did he top off my drink. And the icing on the cake was when he came over to our table, reached for the sauces and brought them over to another table. He reached over our meals and didn't even tell us or ask us to take them over to another table.
tl;dr - pho is average, the portions are big, the staff don't really care -
Review from Celia Z.
Cambridge, MA
2/6/2012
Le's is a go-to place for many Harvard students. I first came here when I was a senior in high school during visiting weekend. Then again when school started. Then again. And again. And again.
It's just one of those places that comes to a default.
Hey you want to go out to eat?
Yep, where ya feeling?
Maybe Asian?
NOT the Kong. Yenching is used too much for Stat department caterings.
Okay how about Le's?
I like Le's. Even though it's less than quality ingredients, the flavor is quite good. The pho is definitely special and simmered in a good blend of spices. The stir fried flat rice noodles are another favorite. And the dishes are actually much more than just sauce poured onto vegetables and meat.
Abrupt, less than par service, as the waitresses try to get people in and out in record time. Mediocre decor. The food comes fast. If you want a semi-nice place to take a casual visiting friend, somewhere to be in and out in 45 mins, head over the Le's. It's always satisfying, but never gives the wow factor. -
Review from Alex S.
Boston, MA
2/5/2012
Went here on a lunch date and ordered the curry chicken. The plate had about one third vegetables, one third white rice, and one third chicken. I'm not sure if Vietnamese is supposed to taste like this, but it was good. The sauce made eating the broccoli a lot more enjoyable. I would definitely come here again for dinner and order something a lot more daring.
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Review from Cassy H.
1/6/2012 7 Check-ins Here
Although not a huge fan of Vietnamese cuisine (taste and smell of fish sauce is something that I am working on..), I think Le's is decent. I usually order their grilled pork chop rice plate, large wonton soup, and/or crispy spring rolls... and that's about it. So, my ratings are based on those items and it's a solid 3. Rice plate is a hit or miss (I think), sometimes there's just too many fattiness on the pork chop. Wonton soup is consistently way too salty for my taste when I'm healthy. However, its strong sodium content comes it handy when you're sick and your palate is less sensitive. So, warm wonton soup hits the spot on a cold day or sick day. Finally, crispy spring roll is okay; rather dry for my preference.
Tip 1: Go to counter to order to-go! Or call in advance and pick it up later. Or if you are super lazy, they do delivery! Check out their website: http://www.lescambridg.../
$15 minimum, with $4.99 delivery charge.
Overall, it's a really affordable place with average food.Listed in: Hahvahd Square Eats
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Review from K P.
Arlington, MA
2/7/2012
I have had food poisoning and salmonella poisoning each once before this, but the food poisoning my daughter and I had from Le's last weekend was worse than either. My doctor told me it was a Staph bacteria, one that grows on food that was lukewarm or not well-washed. As in, growing in the chicken noodle soup I have loved for so long from. Yes, it wasn't quite hot. Or the bean sprouts that might not have been washed. My daughter and I shared it, and eight hours later, we were sick for hours and hours and hours. She is three years old, and it was just terrible. My husband ate the same exact food as us for the rest of the day, with the exception of the soup/sprouts. He was fine. I have been a loyal customer for years. I will never eat here again. Just be careful with the temperature. And don't eat the bean sprouts, just in case.
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Review from Jenny C.
Quincy, MA
12/28/2011
I've been on a pho craze for a while now. Naturally, I just had to eat at Le's . The restaurant is located in a food-court-esque area, but once you walk in, the ambience completely changes. We started off with the Fresh Summer Rolls; they weren't amazing, but they were pretty good. I loved the peanut sauce that accompanied it. Then my friend and I ordered the Dac Biet Pho Noodle Soup. It has a varied assortment of meats for the adventurous person who would like to try tripe or the indecisive ninny who can't decide between brisket or flank. I got the small portion and he got Number 14, Xe Lua, which is actually the extra large version of the Dac Biet. It was huge. Their broth was better than average and they give a decent amount of noodles.
After that first experience, I've been back several times. Le's is located in a very convenient location for me, so it meets my pho cravings very well. My friend says that his Bun plate was very good; I tried the Chicken Pho. It wasn't bad, but I prefer the beef.
The only problem that I have with Le's is that it gets very crowded around dinner time, so the waiters become very rushed and inattentive. My friend and I got our pho before we got our chopsticks and spoons once, so that was interesting experience: watching the soup cool down and listening to our rumbling stomachs tested our willpower and displayed the hold that proper and polite societal regulations had on us.
Anyways, it's a nice place for me because of its location. Someone said it was their default; well, it's mine too. There are plenty of other pho places in the Boston area, but Le's food and prices are average and acceptable. Not bad. -
Review from Ernie F.
San Leandro, CA
12/10/2011 3 Check-ins Here
RATING: 3 stars
FOOD: Beef Ball Pho (~$6 for small, ~$7 for large, only thing I have ordered in my 5 visits)
QUICK SUMMARY:
PHO:
- Broth - Lightly sweet, good flavor, a little oily. Good for the Boston/Cambridge area, but not that great compared to better Pho that I have had.
- Noodles - Nice consistency, not too chewy.
- Beef balls - The kind with collagen in them that can be found in Asian markets. Nothing out of the ordinary, but most importantly, they aren't old and tough.
SERVICE: Gets the job done, but overall lackadaisical. On many occasions the hostess is never at her stand, and I've seen them eating at one of the tables, and another time on the cell phone (not for business) when waiting to be seated. They have a lot of waiters on hand, but most stand around more often than surveying the tables.
CONSISTENCY: I've eaten here 5 times. Same taste and quantity each time I have eaten here. However, the quality of the bean sprouts can vary. I've had some noticeably old and darkened bean sprouts which were apparently not fresh. Jalapenos come by request, but they did not have them one time when I ate at noon (when you would expect them to be fully stocked). Broth can sometimes have excessive oil.
SIZE: Small beef ball pho comes with 2 full balls cut into roughly thirds and quarters. Good for a quick snack. The large comes with approximately 3 beef balls, with most of the "largeness" coming from extra noodles and broth. My choice if I haven't eaten yet.
SEATING: Ample, but they'll refuse to sit one person at a 4-person table, even if you request it when the restaurant is empty.
WIFI: You can get the AT&T wifi from the nearby Starbucks here. Using it to write this review as I eat.
SENTENCE SUMMARY:
"The place if you need a somewhat satisfying pho fix in the Harvard Square, but don't expect much in terms of outstanding food quality or efficient service for its 'cheap-eats' price." -
Review from Chris S.
Manhattan, NY
12/6/2011
This is my default go-to place for a solo dinner when I'm on business around Harvard Square.
I've never had to wait for a table here when I came by myself, since generally if you dine here alone they'll seat you at a little rectangular area immediately to the right of the hostess after you enter the restaurant or at the bar. Even in the other times when I've been here with friends, there are just so many tables here but you're almost guaranteed to have a seat somewhere (there were probably twice when we had to wait about 10 minutes).
Their pho is pretty good - get the XL portion when you're feeling particularly hungry - it's a really good deal for the price or just share one among two people! They also make pretty good fried yellow noodles (I like it with either beef or pork) - the fried yellow noodles (basically lo-mien) have a pleasantly garlicky bite to it, which I really loved. They have a decent grilled pork rice plate too, although I think the portion is too small to justify the price (you get two (generally small) pieces of pork...compare to Clement St. in SF where you pay $5 for the same dish and you get a plate loaded with pork). The flavor is there, though.
They're also open later than comparable restaurants nearby, which is definitely a plus. The service is really prompt, although the waiters can be kind of brusque about bringing you the check (like, 4 seconds after you put down your fork after clearing the bowl).
I miss this place!
ps. Oh yeah, add the spring rolls if you're feeling particularly ravenous and a simple bowl of noodles is not enough to satisfy :)
pps. If you want a particularly "romantic" experience (although I'm not sure why you would go to a Vietnamese restaurant to be romantic...), you can call ahead and request to be seated at the little alcove/depression in the back that has a window facing the street. It's a small space of about 3-4 tables but it makes the generally loud restaurant surprisingly calm :) -
Review from Jolene S.
Updated - 1/15/2012
Try the fried rice as a side for family-style dining. I'm not a fan of tendons, tripe in the pho but the shrimp vermicelli is worthwhile.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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10/29/2010
This place serves a lot of students and working professionals. They cram a lot of tables into a… Read more »
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Review from Jenny L.
Cambridge, MA
1/24/2012
PROS: It's super cheap. Aka a bowl of Vietnamese soup (large) is $7.50 and will fill you up. Pretty quick turn around in terms of service and it's only a block away from the T-stop.
CONS: The service is pretty bad. The waiters are not very friendly and once made my friend tip more than 15% (despite the bad service). A man literally ran up to my friend and told him to tip more.
Overall though, the food is great! I always get the Pho Dac Biet Large and sometimes a Durian Smoothie. Yum! -
Review from Jiyea C.
Cambridge, MA
12/5/2011 1 photo
Came here with a friend for dinner tonight after spending the entire day in the library to satisfy a massive pho craving.
I wasn't expecting much from this place since I'm from San Jose, CA, so I'm not that surprised with the experience I had.
I had the pho with rare beef and brisket. The portions are much smaller and prices higher than what I was used to in California, but I had expected that so it wasn't a huge deal. The broth: edible but not amazing. And it was just warm, not hot like I like it. Noodles and meat: nothing special, nothing terrible.
I would return, but only because I crave pho when I'm here for school and this is the most (only?) convenient location.
The venue is really cute though--it looks like a little cafe.
P.S. I'm planning to eat pho 5 times (at least) in the 2.5 weeks that I will be in the Bay Area for winter break in hopes that it'll carry me over on the pho cravings until spring break in March. -
Review from Betts C.
1/3/2012
So here's the thing about Le's: it's good, it's warm on a cold day, it's fast, and it's cheap. What more could you want? Ok, yes, you could strive for a slightly more intimate atmosphere, though they do their best in what is a fairly food court-like atmosphere in the Garage. But what Le's offers is excellent. One can get a medium-sized bowl of Pho, which will certainly last you a couple of meals, for about $8 with tax. It will take all of five minutes to get said Pho at your table, and it will come with an appropriately sized pile of bean sprouts, limes, and mint. The fish sauce and spicy sauce are available in sizeable quantities, which is good for a girl like me, who truly believes Pho (even seafood-filled) is a vehicle for fish sauce and bean sprouts. The seafood Pho is filled with plenty of yummy fish, though they admit that the crab is imitation. I give them kudos for saying it, and preparing it so it isn't strange and gummy. I've also tried the chicken and the beef meatball, and they're both excellent as well. The entree-sized salad with chicken is a perfect meal for summer.
And again, it's cheap. And in Harvard Square. I've never seen it so busy you don't get a table pretty quickly, and the waitstaff is always polite and even funny.
I have to say, Le's offers one of the best deals in Harvard Square, for surprisingly good and filling Pho. -
Review from Kathy Z.
Somerville, MA
12/5/2011
My favourite Pho place in Boston area.
Very convenient location. -
Review from Jimmy w.
11/6/2011 1 photo
Summary: The service at the time was horrible. The waiter grilled at me because I moved from a two seated table to a four seated table with a better view. My water had hair in it. I've been to a lot of pho spots in NYC and Boston hasn't matched any of it's flavor. The meat wasn't flavored and the broth needs some more spice. I liked the extra large bowl though!! The tofu and broccoli with rice I had was too sweet. This restaurant was in the Garage shopping center.
Rating: 2/10 -
Review from J T.
New York, NY
11/15/2011
I went with my friend for a late lunch at Le's restaurant. The place was largely empty and there was a table of wait staff eating and talking in the back of the room. The place had an 'authentic' feel with some 'local' scenes painted on the walls. We ordered some Pho and Vietnamese "Pad Thai". While the food was good, I wasn't satisfied with my experience.
Service is always an important part of my feeling towards any business. Our waiter was brisk at best, resentful at worst. I don't know if it was a bad day but I was a little surprised at what i felt was a lack of friendliness and professionalism.
Later when I asked for a box and the check, another waiter less than delicately 'tossed' them on the table without really stopping to say anything...
I don't know if I'm being a little too sensitive to the situation, but like I said, service attitude means goes a long way to making a less than delicious meal better, or a good one worse... -
Review from Mi L.
Manhattan, NY
1/6/2012
Love #14 for its big bowl and a lot of different kinds of beef. Tried it twice and it was always good. Guess I'll stick to this choice until I'm really bored. Its price is only $7.95 and it could feed an adult man! Strongly recommended!
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Review from Shireen T.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2012
Decent Pho, but broth is a little weak (not as flavorful as I've had before). Service is lightning fast and food is reasonably priced. Come to get your pho fixing satisfied but don't expect to savor the best pho you have ever had.
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Review from Stephen T.
Cambridge, MA
I come from a a family with Vietnamese cuisine as a staple food. I also grew up in south Louisiana and Texas, where there is a surprisingly large Vietnamese population. I have also visited Vietnam and ate food all up and down the country. All this is to say that I have had my fair share of good and bad cuisine, and my judgement of Le's is that it is OK. Not the best that I have ever had, but also certainly not the worst.
To judge a Vietnamese restaurant's quality, one quick way is to evaluate their pho. It is a staple dish in South Vietnam and the most common Viet dish in the U.S. Judgement points are based on variety offered, meat : noodle ratio, and most importantly, the taste of the broth.
Le's pho passes with average grades. They offer pho with a wide mix of meats, and even chicken pho, which is a plus for them. You can get the pho with any assortment of beef cuts, with beef balls as an additional add-on. The meat noodle ratio was so-so. They could have added a few more pieces, evening it out, but this ratio was expected. The broth was also so-so. It tasted good, but not spectacular. They had all the flavors, but it just seemed a bit bland.
As for service, the place was run with Vietnamese waitresses, so comfortingly aggressive is how I deem them. Then again i may just be used to it.
In conclusion, Le's is a decent place to get your pho fix. Given that there are very few Vietnamese restaurants around here to begin with, it is definitely not a bad place to go. i recommend the pho dac biet and some goi cuon. -
Review from Cassie C.
Sunnyvale, CA
10/20/2011
I AM a Pho snob. Born and raised in San Jose, CA - the capital of American Pho... at least one of them, with regards to the high population of Vietnamese immigrants there.
Le's was good, but gave my friend and I both a stomach ache. We thought it might have to do with the soup tasting extremely sweet. Sure, it tasted "good", but just not "right".
Otherwise, the portion size was good, and the rare stake and condiments were pretty fresh.
Just...what's wrong with the broth? -
Review from Anh H.
Quincy, MA
10/16/2011
Came here for lunch on Saturday. I got my usual Pho Tai Nam (brisket with rare steak) and an iced coffee. Thats what I usually get at any Pho joint. Being Vietnamese, I am a bit more particular with my bowl of beef noodle soup.
Food: The broth was a bit sweet in my opinion but had a nice beefy flavor. The Pho was warm when its suppose to be HOT, so hot that you can cook the raw bean sprouts and meat in the broth. A good bowl of Pho is a HOT bowl of Pho. Temperature is one of the most important factor. Also, the brisket was a bit tough/chewy and had a thick layer of fat still attached. Usually at other places, they trim the fat off.
Service: My waitress was HORRIBLE. I asked for cooked bean sprouts and they came out raw. I reminded her that I wanted cooked bean sprouts. She went out back and must have microwaved them since they came back still kinda raw. How hard is it to cook bean sprouts? I also had to ask her twice for tea and my iced coffee came out when I was done eating. She was more concerned with flirting with the male wait staffs then getting the customers what they've ordered.
I guess the next time I want Pho, I should just ride the T to either Pho Pasteur in Chinatown or Pho Hoa in Dorchester. This place is not worth another visit. -
Review from Brittney S.
Cambridge, MA
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Tried a vermicelli bowl. It was really great! Filling and delicious without being greasy and for a great price. Now I've got to go back and try the pho, although I'm hoping I can get it without tripe. I don't do tripe.
Service wasn't bad but certainly wasn't great. Waiter only came by to drop off food and clear plates. Don't get a soda, because the glasses are small and come with lots of ice and you won't be able to track down a refill. -
Review from R c.
Middlesex, MA
12/5/2011
Pho is yummy!!!! Loved the fresh summer rolls! Highly recommend!
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Review from Suzy H.
Needham, MA
9/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Came here last night (9/17) with two of my friends- looked PACKED but thankfully we got a table right away!
I ordered the special pho [#15) small size...and it was just average. nothing too bad, nothing too good. It was decent and I'm surprised that there's decent pho here in Boston. I always had access to yummy viet food back home in socal but it was difficult to find one here. I'm glad I found one! The prices aren't bad [6.50 for small] but the portion was smaller compared to other places I've been to. I was full because I ordered thai tea with boba and boba makes you really full...
Overall, good cheap and fast restaurant to eat at. One star off because our server literally rushed us like crazy. As soon as I set my chopsticks down, she came and took my bowl away and she came back twice after that to take my friends' bowls away. Goodness, give us some time to eat!!
And when she dropped the bill off, she literally came back 30 seconds after she dropped it off to get it...WTF? slow down. I know you're busy but there's no need to rush customers like that, ugh. Hate restaurants that are like that.
Would give 4 stars but our server threw us off so only 3 stars. meh. -
Review from Kristi Y.
Andover, MA
7/27/2011
Went here for dinner one night. It was good and cheap.
The restaurant seems a bit crowded with tables, and has 3 sections. We were seated down stairs near some windows, and it was a bit cramped if anyone wanted to get up.
The fresh summer rolls were delicious. Entree, I had flat noodles with tofu. It was greasy, but overall okay. I probably should have went with a noodle bowl, but I was not too disappointed. I would give it another shot. My sister was pleased with her dish.
The menu offers many options. The portions are large, especially for the price. Everything was fresh when we went. The service was fine. The bill was cheap. I'd come back again, but not expecting top notch food. -
Review from Connie S.
8/18/2011
Cheap Vietnamese in the Harvard Garage, where you generally won't have to wait to be seated
- Fresh Summer Rolls: It's hard to make a bad one of these as long as the rice paper wrapping and the vermicelli are fresh, which they were, so I was pleased - though I wish there were more than 2 per order
- Bun (vermicelli plate) with Grilled Beef and Spring Rolls: the beef tenderloin was nicely cooked and seasoned; overall very satisfying
My biggest dissatisfaction was with the Pho. The noodles were good (chewy but not soggy) and the meat was good although there could have been more (we got the bowl with sliced eyeround, tripe, and tendon), but:
- the broth wasn't too flavorful as far as pho bowls go (although the benefit of that is that you could tell they didn't just load it with MSG)
- the large size really wasn't all that large
- the soup was not served piping hot as it should be
We had a really nice waiter, although by the end when it came time to pay he seemed to have forgotten about us - not such a quick meal as it should have been.
Despite some disappointing aspects, this place will hit the spot when you have a craving for Vietnamese food -
Review from Judith E.
Cambridge, MA
10/31/2011
Surprisingly good (and HUGE portions). Perfect for those cold winter nights. In fact, I'm going there right after work.
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Review from Leanne C.
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good price, tasty food and colorful presentation.
The atmosphere was very warm in appearance (super a/c-ed in temperature) and the service was good. My cabbage salad was just the right size and pretty flavorful. Simple and pleasant but not impressive either.
This isn't a place to write home about, but it's a satisfying lunch location. -
Review from Robo t.
Rough and Ready, CA
6/28/2011
The ginger chicken is absolutely delicious.
The service is horrible. The waiter got two of the three entrees at our table wrong. When we brought it to his attention, he was unapologetic. At that point we didnt care about getting the correct entrees and just wanted to make sure the check matched what we actually received. The waiter then tried to tell us that one of the dishes WITH shrimp (as we ordered it) was the same price WITHOUT shrimp (as we received it). REALLY??? Shrimp is free????
Maybe Ill get take out...but never eating in again. -
Review from Matt J.
Somerville, MA
6/24/2011
Here is the one word headline of my review :COCKROACH.
OK I get it. Most likely every restaurant has cockroaches, and you just don't see most of them. I get that I rationally shouldn't let it ruin my meal since I guess I'd rather have it out here than in the kitchen. I get that's it's been raining for several days and roaches are probably more abundant than usual. But there's nothing that can unleash some irrational squirminess like seeing one of these little bastards scurrying from under my table into the corner, and seeing it emerge FOUR more times over the course of the meal.
The only saving grace was the hilariously subversive attempt by the waiter to squash it without alerting any of us patrons of its presence (even though we will knew it was there). Kudos to the "failed squash but then resume regular posture and hope nobody saw me" move (kinda like when you trip while walking and pretend like you were just doing a little skip. Don't kid yourself - everyone knows what happened). Props for then finally succeeding to squash it and dragging your foot across the room (interupted by smiling and seating a newly arrived couple) and wiping it off your shoe with a napkin. We saw you doing that too dude.
Vermin aside, I think the pho is pretty decent here, but I feel like I've just consumed about 12 pounds of sodium after eating it.
Maybe I"m being unfair...but I don't think I can go back -
Review from John J.
Somerville, MA
9/2/2011
This place has been a personal favorite for a while now.
Great Pho, and other Vietnamese dishes.
Apart from the Pho, I really liked the summer rolls, all hand made, tasteful and sucklishes goodness.
Reasonably priced, great location , definitely worth a visit. -
Review from Michelle K.
Boston, MA
11/21/2011
Disgusting restaurant . I was there twice. The first time, my friend saw a small cockroach on a kitchen door. Second time it was last night, I needed to go to the ladies room and when I went in what I saw in the toilet turned my stomach. I told the waitress that was revolting. Her response was that she could not do anything, and the toilet had been flooded for TWO DAYS! . I couldn't eat.... I had to go to the mall restrooms, which although not spotless at least were not so horrendous, anti-hygienic like Le's. I'll never go back to that disgusting place.
I would not recommend this to my worst enemy. Bad service, so-so food, revolting place. -
Review from Nho H.
5/4/2011
Being Vietnamese and all, I would say that I am very picky about my food and after living in NYC for 5 years where a good bowl of pho is non existent, I found myself a little happier in Boston. Le's isn't incredible by any means but it does it. For the price, I think the food helps the pho craving quite a bit. From the noodle dish to the rice dishes, I would say you are safe. Le is my to go to spot for when I am craving a little taste of my motherland... literally little cuz pho is no where near comparable to what they have in Hanoi. Apparently Dorchester is where its at in terms of Vietnamese food but its quite a trek for me. Perhaps when I'm feeling snooty.
If you are from California, this is the best Vietnamese you can get. And why do people come here to get the most Chinese dish on the menu? WHY? Actually, why does Le's even have that. WHY! -
Review from Julianna P.
Cambridge, MA
6/8/2011
I emerged from the Harvard T last week to foreboding dark skies and rumbling thunder. Folks were cowering under shop awnings, clustered together taking photos (and not just the typical asian tourists) and I knew I couldn't risk even the 15 minute walk home, lest I be sucked away by a rogue tornado.
I let my instincts take over, and sought shelter in one of my favorite Cambridge restaurants, Le's. Typically not one to eat alone, there was something luxuriously cozy and relaxing about enjoying a meal solo at this casual spot. Tucked away in the "garage," Le's is usually busy but almost never completely full, so reservations are unnecessary. The service is quick, and the waitstaff are friendly and accommodating without being overly intrusive.
While the ambience is warm and inviting, it certainly is not Le's best asset. You go for the food, and the value. My typical order is the shrimp salad (which can also be made with chicken or tofu)--a heaping pile of shredded vegetables with fresh shrimp tossed in a tangy lime juice dressing. The fragrant vegetable pho with BEEF BROTH (the chicken broth is bland and not very pho-y) serves as the perfect counterpart to the salad, and all this sets you back only about 14 bucks. YUM!
Another to-die-for dish the is caramelized salmon, with thin slices of fish drowning in a sweet and complex sauce (essentially the Vietnamese version of teriyaki). The spicy salted shrimp, and really anything lemongrass should also not be missed.
To quote Bob Dylan (loosely): "Le, Lady, Le's, I could eat your pho everyyy days." -
Review from Gianna L.
Cambridge, MA
7/25/2011
Reliable, good quality, friendly service, large selection of items, easy-to-get-to location.
I've been to Le's a few times now and I've never been disappointed. The quality of food from their kitchen is good-quality every time. Vegetables always taste fresh, sauces have great consistency and flavor, and dishes come out piping hot. In my opinion you get more than you pay for when it comes to quality at Le's.
The atmosphere is a bit like a romantically-lit cafeteria: lots of cramped tables, tile floors, chairs stored odd places, but really you get what you pay for when it comes to ambiance. I have had consistently good service -- very friendly waiters, super fast food delivery to my table, and very prompt with the water/check/additional items.
I love Vietnamese and I will definitely go back here for cheap quality eats. -
Review from Ben E.
Cambridge, MA
8/12/2011
This place is great. Their pho is phoking amazing!
The service is quick and the food always tastes fresh. I usually only ever order the following:
Shrimp summer rolls
Round eye pho
Jasmine tea
My bill is always less than $15 and I can't say enough good things about this place.
My only complaint is delivery...
There is a $20 order min for deliver not to mention a 5-6 dollar delivery fee plus online website charge. My usual $15 meal above ends up being more $30 if I have it delivered. :-/ -
Review from Cy K.
9/18/2011
One of my favorite places in Boston. I never ordered anything but the Bun (noodles and grilled shrimp and pork). Each time I visited I planned to branch out into the Pho or stir fry dishes (which always looked and smelled amazing). Still, I could never betray my favorite and always ended up chowing down on those delicious shrimp in the shell!
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Review from Diana C.
Boston, MA
12/20/2011
I got food poisoning here last week---I think it may have been the chili sauce condiment. Me and my friend both had the beef broth dish and there were 2 chili sauce condiments on the table..I had one and she the other and only I got sick..I only got better after one week!...I would have to assume this is not a hygienic place.
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Review from S C.
Cambridge, MA
1/20/2012
I've loved going to Le's for their fairly priced and decent food. However, my last trip there had appalled me so much that I had to leave bad review. I went there with my friend for lunch. To simplify and speed up the billing process, we decided to split check down in the middle, and, since my friend's order is a bit more than mine, my friend will leave the tip for both of us. So we did...we made sure she left enough tip on her credit card slip. However, when I checked my bank account, Le's had actually added the same amount of the tip as my friend to my part of bill!!!! Not only is it illegal but unethical!!! Not to mention tipping is not a law! So now we actually double tipped (almost 40% for lunch)!! When I called them, they refused to deal with me and had no intention of looking up the bill and credit me the unauthorized charge!! I don't think I will be going there in the near future...and sad to say that it's so typical the way they handled this issue!
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Review from Noam R.
Lee, MA
6/11/2011
Amazing pho, I really loved all the food (even their americanized stir fry stuff). The atmosphere was a little off, seemed more like an Olive Garden than a Vietnamese Restaurant. Oh, and the host:
What an a**hole.
So, as I was signing the bill, I gave the guy a 15% tip because I felt his service was average so he deserved an average tip. The waiter starts haggling with me for his tip! I'm not used to that in the states, so I just gave the guy another dollar and left the restaurant with a barely audible "f*** you" to the guy.
I'll definitely go back, I think their kitchen deserves my patronage, but when I do go back I'll ask for that server by name and I'll make sure to leave no tip, just so I can get some of my own revenge.
Other than that speedbump, I'd totally recommend this place. I ate there 8 hours ago and I still want more pho.
