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Hynes Convention Center (Green)
Massachusetts Ave (Orange)
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Let me begin by saying that I gave Pho Basil five stars after having eaten there at least ten times since they've opened. I started going there since they are only a short walk from my home and I keep returning because they have consistently provided good food, friendly and efficient service, and affordable prices.
The menu is composed of a wide variety of primarily Vietnamese and Thai food. Whenever I go there with my girlfriend, we begin with an assortment of appetizers: crispy egg rolls ($3.95), fried dumplings ($4.95), and two orders of spicy rangoon ($4.95 each). The spicy rangoon are her favorite and are probably the best "crab rangoon" / "cheese boats" / "Peking ravioli" (whatever you know them as) that I've had. We then usually split either a medium or large bowl of pho for the entree. Tonight we had the Dac Biet (rare steak, well done flank, and tendon and tripe) ($6.95). We found it to be quite good, but the broth is sweeter than that of other pho restaurants. In my opinion, the sweetness does not detract from the flavor.
The best thing about Pho Basil is how affordable it is when you take into account the quality and quantity of food you get for your money. I eat out frequently and enjoy having a good meal that doesn't make me flinch when they drop the check. The entire meal for two cost less than $30.00 (not including gratuity). I think that an important part of eating out is leaving with the feeling that you received a bargain. I feel that way about Pho Basil and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys good Vietnamese food. Thanks for reading my review, -M-
Pho Basil is the only reason I will travel down to Mass Ave amidst the swarms of crazy college kids.
Because it is so delicious. And it just makes me so happy.
The menu is mostly Thai, but there is something for everyone. It literally took my friend and I about 20 minutes to decide what to have because we were so overwhelmed by the selection. We had the veggie squares to start (pretty tasty) and I had the Spicy Beef Basil and she had the Drunken Noodles. We both agreed that our entrees were divine and that we would be back again as we walked out with our doggie bags-o-thai. And did I mention it was so affordable?
Please do get the bubble tea. It is delicious and bubbly and it will make your day so much better.
The value and quality at this place is great. Definitely a keeper!
I don't know Pho very well but I know what I like. This was literally like my 3rd time EVER having pho so I'm not a expert. But I just didn't like theirs. I went and drove last night in the pouring rain because they don't deliver to MIssion Hill but they deliver to BU (WTF?). I got the Xe Lua and the gyoza. The meat was my own fault. I know I don't like tripe or tendon. But the broth was wayyy too sweet. It wasn't full of spices.
I just liked Pho & I's broth way better. Could be personal.
The gyoze were amazing and the dipping sauce was so good we drank it!! HAHAHA!
Precisely what you'd expect for a small, neighborhood thai place.
Food is consistent and well-priced. Delivers on-time. Lunch specials are large-portioned AND inexpensive.
I can't speak for the Vietnamese food as I've only had the Thai stuff, but it's as good as any of the other neighborhood places. Our go-to place for thai delivery.
I'm a Le's kind of girl, but on a recent night we decided to break from the beaten path and try Pho Basil. This was our second attempt. The first was good, mainly because we were freezing (dead of winter) and would have loved stone soup if it was hot.
Our most recent try, however, fell short. I had the vegetable pho -- good mix of veggies -- but the broth was so incredibly sweet that I couldn't eat it. I literally picked the veggies out, and tried to get them to drip dry before eating. I did call the waitress over and ask whether it was supposed to be so sweet... I'm not a pho novice and I'd never had anything quite this sweet, but I figured I'd ask. I mainly got an eye roll back and a half hearted offer to get me something else. Well at that point my dining companion was nearly half done with his (which was also sweet but not as sweet as mine), so I declined.
If you tend to like dessert for dinner, this might be your place, but if you're interested in a more traditional pho, I'd look elsewhere.
This is an excellent Thai restaurant located in the Hynes area near the Berklee School. The menu is mainly Thai, with some Vietnamese (mainly pho soups) and Chinese thrown in. I've tried several of the dishes on multiple visits. Their tilapia filet was excellent, along with their lad nar. Pho soups were excellent as is the presentation of all the dishes. Portion sizes are excellent. I think the owners created a menu with students in mind because most of the pho's do not exceed $8 a bowl. All the other dishes are under $13. The service is also attentive and excellent. I brought a Thai friend to this place one day and she said, it's pretty good! I like this place for the value and the quality! A keeper!
I don't really know what authentic Viet or Thai food should taste like, despite being 1/8 Viet and 1/8 Thai, but I do know that of the 10 or so times I've been to Pho Basil in the past 3 weeks, I have been disappointed with nothing except my inability to finish the huge portions I keep getting served. Sometimes I wish they could add a bit more flavor to the broth instead of just throwing bowls of MSG in, but it's not awful. The pineapple fried rice is by far my favorite dish, followed closely by the duck noodles (which aren't quite as herb-infused as one might hope, but pretty yummy all the same).
Beware the bubble tea, though. It comes in an ice-blended form, which is kind of... odd. I like my bubble tea all liquidy and warm, not freezing cold and frappuccino-like.
Pho Basil is wicked good! I work in the neighborhood, and the lunch options (especially Asian options) are plentiful. Pho Basil is by far the best spot! There is a element of freshness in the food at Pho Basil that I don't find anywhere else in the neighborhood. When they first opened, and it wasn't too busy in there, I would frequently see the waitstaff sitting at another table, preparing basil leaves. I've tried many dishes off the lunch menu, and I've haven't met a dish I haven't loved. The spicy crab rangoon are also one of my faves there.
In a neighborhood filled with college kid-oriented crapholes, Pho Basil is a gem. Did I mention it's cheap? Totally worth checking out.
Despite a screaming identity crisis (green menu items are Vietnamese, purple items are Japanese, and yellow items are Chinese), the pho dish I've ordered was without reproach delicious and satisfying.
Best part: Pho Basil is a rare restaurant that makes it possible to finish a bowl of pho because they have a "small" $7 portion (as opposed to customary enormous servings).
This place has the best pho broth in the city - by far! Prices are standard (reasonable) pho, though I wish they had more varied pho combinations (ie Pho Pasteur - but Pho Basil blows Pho Pasteur out of the water!). The servers are always attentive, and indulge my obnoxious requests (no cilantro on anything, substituting flank steak for rare beef in the tai pho, etc). Their hot tea is lovely, and their Thai food is great as well.
And try the spicy crab rangoons!!
I actually haven't had pho.. or basil.. here.. but I've had a whole lot of everything else.
I'm not too impressed with their appetizers, although I've ordered their steamed gyoza more than once. Sometimes it comes out lukewarm.. but kinda lukewarm in the way that it might have been microwaved (AKA cold in the middle). The golden bags are more bags than golden goodness inside. Too much fried stuff, not enough ingredients. As for their summer rolls, they're pretty standard and satisfying.
The entrees are what really get the stars (besides the stellar service). I'm a fan of their chicken pad see ew. Not the best I've ever had, but definitely reliable. Also, the chicken always seems to be cooked just right (not too dry like some other places). But 9 times out of 10, I'm ordering the duck noodle soup. SOOO good. The duck is tender and plentiful and the broth is really delicious. Oh and if you get it to go, they give you a lotta soup. Definitely enough for two meals.
The staff is extremelyyyy friendly. Like redonculously friendly. They check in on you enough so you don't have to flag them down, but they're not too in your face so that you can't carry on a decent conversation. Once, a friend and I didn't have enough money for a tip, so I gave our waiter pretty much all the laundry money I had (standard 20%.. except it was all in quarters). The meal was definitely worth breaking into some "laundry day clothes" for work and he didn't even give us the evil eye after we left.
Can't attest to the service since I stopped for takeout on my way home from work yesterday. I have to say, though, I was definitely quite pleased.
I started by ordering the canh chua with chicken which was a really tasty (but quite tart) soup. It had lots of chicken and bean sprouts in it which happens to be two of my favorite things...especially in soup which i could totally eat everyday. i also ordered the Chim Cut Ro Ti which is a really good fried roasted quail. The quail was very tender and meaty and was so tasty. As an entree, I ordered jungle curry which was good...from the description i thought it would have a typical, creamy red curry sauce, but the sauce tasted more like red curry without the coconut milk. still really tasty and actually really spicy. I ordered a ton because I wanted to try everything and, in the end, was only able to finish the soup and a little bit of each of the quail and curry.
prices were decent...not super high but not super cheap either. definitely going to come back to this place to try more stuff.
Food was very tasty- I ordered the pad thai and some duck disk. Both were excellent. I think this may be a family run business, which cares about customer experience; the waiter was extremely polite, friendly and helpful. One thing to be careful about, is that if the food on the menu is indicated to be spicy, it really is super spicy.
I tried this resto because of the numerous positive yelp reviews. I would def. go there again.
I used to frequent Tom Yum and I completely boycotted coming to Pho Basil because I didn't like the idea of a family run institution (it was the oldest Thai restaurant in New England) being reincarnated as a chic/trendy restaurant.
I finally gave in about 6 months ago. Despite the name, I have always felt this was a Thai restaurant first. The food is pretty good. I have sampled everything from their curry dishes, Pho, Wild Boar, Pad Thai and I have been pleased with everything. The thing that I was most concerned about in the transition was that the service would slump. But at Pho Basil I get the general impression that they actually want me eating there and they are not annoyed by my presence like so many other places in Boston.
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Reliable and tasty Vietnamese food. I really like their summer rolls. The place seems clean and the staff is personable and helpful.
This is amazing pho. Some of the best in Boston. Plus a really nice dining room, friendly staff, and completely reasonable prices. I come here all the time. The gyoza are delicious too. Great, now I've made myself want it really bad. I am addicted to Pho Basil.
Looking in the window of Pho Basil while waiting outside, i was a little bit skeptical that it was closer to the take-out end of the spectrum than to the nice dinner side, but as it turns out, it was quite the opposite. Inside it's nice and peaceful, away from the bustle of Mass. Ave., and very comfortable, if a little plain.
They have a pretty extensive menu, with a variety of Asian food (goodness knows i'm not smart enough to suss out what's Thai and what's Vietnamese, exactly), but everything we had was pretty good. I liked the pho with chicken and the summer rolls.
The wait staff was a little bit too attentive at times, but in a very friendly way. It's good, warm, cheap food, perfect for a chilly late-winter day.
Only a 2-minute walk from the Sheraton Back Bay, this snazzy little Vietnamese cafe has lovely Pho Tai (great broth) and excellent Bun Cha Gio. I also had the limeade with soda (yummy and fresh, but very small) and the ca phe sua da (served without the drip apparatus, but very good anyway). The prices were very low, service was very friendly -- I went for dinner one weeknight and then, a couple days later, for lunch. I have eaten Vietnamese food in Vietnam and all over northern Virginia, and the two dishes I had here were the real deal. Very good, and also offers the rare combo of a nice-looking dining room but low prices.
I just ordered takeout from here per the reviews below, having been convinced to try it out myself. I am a fan of the idea of noodle soup, but must say: I have NEVER HAD Pho this TASTY until today.
I ordered a large Pho Tai, the rare beef and lemongrass noodle soup. I brought it back to my office and opened the bag. There was a quart of broth, a takeout box with raw beef and noodles with cilantro and chives, and a separate plastic bag with the hot sauce, bean sprouts, basil, and a lime slice. I was wondering how they were going to do this, since it was takeout, but though it was a nice detail that they kept it fresh so I could cook it in the broth when I was ready to do so, instead of adding it themselves beforehand.
Very clean, well-lit environment, good prices, kind service. The thai iced tea I had was also good. Will be back again soon!
I miss the bun bo hue! I daydream about it sometimes at work. Toooo bad I don't live around the corner anymore. My babe and I ate here the first day it opened...it was love at first sight, because we never cheated on her! We never went back to Pho Pasteur in Chinatown...demographics and the good food brought us back every time.
My coworkers and I ate at Pho Basil for lunch yesterday, and I ordered the mango chicken salad! Before I go any further let me get one thing out... Yummy Bubble Tea! The Green bubble tea smoothie was so incredibly mouth watering delicious. I ordered my bubble tea first because I could not wait (I had had it once before) and it was done before my meal even arrived! The lettuce and fruit that were in my salad were so fresh and the satay chicken came with light and sweet dipping sauce was a perfect combination. My coworker ordered the Pad Thai with added chicken...she said it was so amazing that she could not stop eating. In fact, she decided right on the spot to continue eating away and just forgo eating any dinner that night. It must have been good! Give this quaint, nicely decorated restaurant a try. p.s. the prices are not bad either...good lunch specials!
A relatively new addition in my neighborhood, which is great since there is no Vietnamese restaurant is around. The place is modern and clean-looking, not really trendy, somewhat minimal decoration, obviously is tailored towards a younger and casual clientele.
the food is pretty decent. actually probably A-/B+ by boston standard, but probably a B/B- by California standards. you can find all of your typical vietnamese dishes here. the price is right and service is quick.
Comfort Thai...mmm. This place was pretty good and we settled on it in the midst of the 134 Asian restaurants on Mass Ave. They have Singha which is a huge plus....yummy (although they aren't as big as in Thailand, boo). Started with some Tom Yum soup which was goooood...could have been a bit spicier actually, but otherwise delicious. The bf got vietnamese spring rolls for an app and he enjoyed them (esp the peanut sauce you dip them in).
Got a Thai favorite for my meal - a cashew dish with tofu and veggies in a brown sauce. Pretty decent, nothing to write home about, but it was good then.
For dessert we split a mango-sticky-rice.... if you haven't had this dish you MUST try it sometime in your life. The bf's exact words were: "Dude, sticky rice is f'ing awesome". The only thing is the mangos were a bit unripe, so this might be better in season.
Stopped by Pho Basil today for a quick lunch in this bright, clean and delicious smelling venue; we left very satisfied!
My party of 2 was seated immediately. We scanned the menu and specials (lunch specials are $6.95, served until 3pm), and our selections were made. Our food arrived within 10 minutes of ordering-- maybe within 8 minutes. I had the vegetarian pho chay. The broth was flavorful and with all of the fresh veggies floating in the big bowl, it was wonderfully healthy and hot on a cold Boston day. My partner-in-lunch had the tom yum fried rice and it looked awesome!
We left happy, ready to take on the Mapparium across the street!
When it comes to having pho outside of Chinatown, I had, until this place opened, never considered the possibility of it existing for some reason. One day, I walked by the place while it was still under construction and thought "This isn't Chinatown; especially not with Nan Ling being almost right next-door."
Anyway, not long after it opened, Amanda and I made our first visit here just before a Sox game. Being brand new, we expected some kinks, which we received. They didn't have any boba for their shakes, the service was a little nervous (yay for rhymes) and perhaps a little shaky as well. By shaky, I mean one of the servers spilled a little bit of my remaining broth on the corner of my backpack on the floor. I didn't really care, but she apologized profusely and even gave me a free can of Sprite to prove her sincerity. I even managed to sneak that can past the Sox bag-checkers and drank it in the stands. I live dangerously.
Recently, I had another opportunity to eat at Pho Basil, this time with 4 more people than before. Service seemed much improved over the last visit, although I never did get that Thai Iced Tea I had ordered, but, after I ordered it, I didn't even really want it in the first place. Maybe the service is telepathic now?
Needless to say at this point, Pho Basil is a Thai & Vietnamese place. They have pho, they have pad thai, both of which are rather tasty. I ordered the meatball pho which contains copious amounts of greens, plenty of said meat, and enough thin, round noodles to have my fill. My favorite bit might just be the broth it is served in. It's always spiced very nicely (but not spicy, unless you want it that way), hardly salty and just about some of my favorite broth in the city. It barely costs much more than I would pay in Chinatown and it's about 15 minutes closer to my place! Although, having to cross the Mass Ave./Boylston intersection is quite the disincentive...
All told, Pho Basil is a good place to get a big bowl of something to warm you or to satiate a Thai food craving while not being especially close to Chinatown. I'll be popping in here again.
Once upon a time I was a virgin to the art of Pho. Yes, I call it an 'art' because there is an element of creating one's own perfect masterpiece in this fine, fine, oh so fine asian noodle soup.
My Pho cherry was officially popped today -- and for that I can thank Marc, Amanda, and Kristin.
Thanks.
On to the review -- Pho Basil has a simple atmosphere, a friendly staff, and very reasonable prices. $6.95 for a bowl of seafood pho with yellow noodles -- a facade of deceiving portions. At first glance, it's just a bowl of incredibly tasty noodle soup. About half way through, your stomache is already almost full, and you've still got that mass of noodles waiting at the bottom of your bowl.
Fantastic.
Now -- onto the bubble tea.
Frozen concotions laced with giant tapioca balls, served with a monica lewinsky-worthy straw -- nearly the circumfrance of a cigar.
Highly recommended... and definately a classic Yelp 5 star review.
A delicious Thai/Pho/whatever place outside of Chinatown. Extremely clean, with lovely decor, and delicious bowls of pho!
I love the option of many bowls having different sizes, so if you aren't feeling too hungry, you can get a small bowl and it is just right. The prices are right on par with Chinatown, so you can eat really well for really cheap.
I had to deduct a star for their mango shake. It was pretty awful. But their fresh sparkling limeade is yummy, and will help you burp up all the salt, so get it instead!
This is one of my favorite hole-in-the-wall places in Boston. I go here often with my boyfriend, and we have never had a bad experience. The food is fresh and delicious. I have had pho dishes, stir-fry dishes, and bbq dishes, and they have all been wonderful and exciting to try.
The service is GREAT. The food comes out so fast, and the girls are so friendly. The prices are fine, I think the most reasonable things on the menu are the pho dishes.
I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're looking for good Vietnamese cuisine. I've had a much better experience here than at pho&i down the street.
Bottom line: delicious, fresh food, and friendly, quick service.
I've only eaten here twice but I absolutely love it! In an area filled with "sketchy" Asian restaurants, Pho Basil is fresh, delicious, and cheap! The spicy crab rangoons were actually spicy and the drunken noodle was the perfect combination of spicy sauce, noodles, chicken, and fresh vegetables. My vermicelli bun was topped with a generous portion of perfectly seasoned grilled lemongrass chicken. I've heard good things about the pho, and since it's getting colder I think that's what I'll try next. The only issue I've had here is when I asked if we could sit by the window. Our waiter hesitated for a while and wouldn't explain why he didn't want us to sit there (there were only two other parties there and the table was set for two) but he ended up letting us sit there. I just don't find things like that very professional, but aside from that the service has always been excellent.
I read all the good reviews so I had to check it out. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by the pho. Despite the name, Pho Basil is not a Vietnamese restaurant. The signs? They serve Thai red tea. Chopsticks aren't available by default. You have to ask for them and even then, they're the Thai design disposables. The menu is at least two-thirds Thai. It's really a Thai restaurant trying to capitalize on a recent Asian food trend. That's not a problem, if they're at least good at what they're trying to capitalize on. It's too bad they missed the mark here.
I was only interested in trying one thing, the Pho Xe Lua with meatballs. Before the pho arrived, a plate of pho accompaniments (to call it garnish would trivialize its importance to properly enjoy pho) was dropped off at the table The plate consisted of bean sprouts, basil and one wedge of lime. The only problem was that this plate was meant for one, even though my dining companion also ordered pho. Any self respecting pho restaurant would know that these accompaniments are almost as important as the pho itself.
The pho arrived as ordered. However, the broth was way too sweet. It also had a strong taste of a sweet root vegetable. The broth wasn't very beefy. It was just another MSG-laden broth. I generously offered the one wedge of lime that was on the plate to my companion while I waited for more lime. By the time the lime arrived, the eye round was well-done and tough. The tendons were overcooked to the point where it was just jelly. The meatballs were a bit mealy though they did at least contain bits of tendon.
I am a pho-holic and as far as pho goes, I really wouldn't recommend this place unless you're desperately craving it and are in the area. I may come back, but I wouldn't order the pho or anything else Vietnamese. I'd probably try the Thai items instead. From what I could see, those looked pretty good.
Here's an idea, Pho Basil. Change your name to Pho Thai. Get it? It's a play on Pho Tai, the classic version of pho and your obvious Thai roots. You can thank me later. Oh, and please learn to serve pho properly. Because, honestly, the pho was about an average 3 stars with potential for more. But the poor execution knocked it down a bit.
THE best chicken Pad Thai I have ever had. I don't know how they do it so well every single time. And the wait staff is superb and attentive. The prices are perfect and well within anyone's budget!
That other Thai place a couple doors down with the snooty wait staff, snooty interior and even snootier prices, I've eaten there when Pho Basil was unavailable due to renovations. What a jip. Nothing was as good.
Pho Basil is the best for price, quality, and class.
A rare cheap Back Bay restaurant that doesn't suck.
When I lived in the Back Bay, my suburban friends would coo, "Oooh, you must love the great restaurants!" I'd flush and mumble about how I'd found a few worthy places, omitting how difficult that was. In truth, there's lots of cheap fuel for drunken students, plenty of posh expense-account restaurants, and scads of overpriced Newbury Street places that would swiftly fail without tourists filling their great patios. But for tasty, healthy, affordable meals, Back Bay residents have to pick their spots carefully. So I was tickled to discover that Pho Basil, a new Vietnamese/Thai place near the Berklee School of Music, delivers extraordinary value and fresh flavors for the neighborhood.
Unlike nearby fluorescent-lit dumps, it's a pretty 50-seat place, with vanilla, caramel, and turquoise walls, plus mahogany-laminate furniture. Classic starters like goi cuon ($4), filled with chicken, tofu, or shrimp and pork, could use more fresh basil or mint inside, but are otherwise fine. Roti 'n curry dip ($6), a scallion pancake with a dipping sauce of Thai green curry loaded with basil leaves, seems like an odd bit of Chinese/Thai fusion, but the pancake is deliciously crisp and not too greasy, and I believe even styrofoam peanuts could be made palatable with that wonderful gravy. A Thai entreé of drunken noodle with a choice of chicken, crispy chicken, pork, beef, seafood (shrimp, scallop, and squid), or tofu ($8-10) is a skillful stir-fry of flat, long rice noodles, barely crisp vegetables, generously laid-on protein, and just the right amount of dried-chili fire.
But any place with "pho" in the name must be judged on its namesake, and Pho Basil doesn't disappoint. There's real depth of roasted-bone-stock flavor in the broth of the pho dac biet ($7): al dente rice noodles, big slices of honeycombed tripe, lean rib eye, and gamey brisket, a few tendrils of richly chewy tendon, and perfect accompaniments (no blackly wilting basil here). By itself, that medium-size bowl makes a hearty meal to instill warmth and contentment, but if you're a real trencherman, you can order the pho xe lua ($9), which aptly translates as "train-sized." The weekday four-course prix fixe lunch special ($9) offers a few choices each of an appetizer, soup, salad, and entrûe -- a deal. Bottled beers ($4.25), cheap sake ($5), and modest wines (glasses $5-$7, no bottle more than $28) are another pleasant surprise, though just-made sparkling limeade ($2.50) also refreshes beautifully. Service is attentive and sweet, delivering a rare two-fer of quality Vietnamese and Thai from one kitchen. Frugal locals accustomed to settling for mediocre burritos, awful American-Chinese, and execrable pizza ought to be shouting for joy.
I have been here two times and both times I have found the following:
1. Reasonably priced meals.
2. Healthier options available (could use some more).
3. Extremely attentive service. They know what you want before you do.
4. Good tasting food.
I give five stars because this is a lower-end restaurant and they exceed the expectations for their target market. What more could you ask for? If this were billed as an upscale fusion restaurant the stars reflect what is served.
Service could not be better. Great job!
Simply the best Southeast Asian meal I've had in Boston.
The prices are very reasonable and the staff is considerate and eager to please.
Everyone else already wrote the details and they're right on, Pho Basil is the place to be.
Even though their name suggests that they only serve Pho or Vietnamese food, you'll be surprised at their varied menu offering Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, and Japanese food. The food is GREAT and it's inexpensive! I've been here a few times and have not been disappointed yet. The service is great and the decor is simple but comfortable.
The following are my recommendations:
Appetizers-
-Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Crepe with shrimp, pork, onion, scallion and bean sprouts, served with tomato, cucumber, lettuce, served with homemade sauce)
Entrees-
-Dac Biet (Medium size of Vietnamese beef noodle soup with rare steak,
well done frank, tendon and tripe)
-Bun Thit Nuong (Grilled Lemongrass Chicken, Beef or Pork Vermicelli)
Drinks-
Bubble Milk Tea
(*it's the slushy kind because they blend the ice with it)
Pho Basil has a new fan! I ordered delivery from these guys and it came in less than a half hour (which is great during the dinner rush).
I tried...
Papaya Salad: Tasty with a good kick to it but there was a little bit too much dressing on it and the shrimp tasted a tiny, tiny bit fishy.
Summer Rolls (tofu): YUM. Some of the best I've had. The peanut sauce that comes with it isn't that normal pasty peanut butter-y dipping sauce you usually get....It's thinner in texture and has real chopped up peanuts in it. It also has an awesome spicy kick to it.
Tom Yum Noodle Soup (Pho): Really, really good. Fresh mushrooms, tasty shrimp, just the right amount of spice and lemongrass flavor to it...There's no complaints from me at all! And the portion was HUGE for only $7.95.
All in all, I'd definitely order delivery from Pho Basil again. Maybe one day I'll even take a stroll up there to meet this little gem in person.
I have been to lots of Vietnamese places all over Boston. This is one of the best I have been to. I dined here once and I really liked it. I ordered the pho ga and the fresh rolls. I was more than satisfied with my meal. The price was decent too. Of course my first pho love is Xinh Xinh but Pho Basil can be my mistress.
If you're like me, you know how tough it is to find good asian food in boston. not only is pho basil reasonable in prices, great in portions, but it is also legit authentic good food that is not only viet, but also chinese and thai.
The beef pho came in a nice large bowl, piping hot, with lot of tripe, fresh veggies, and a good amount of noodles. Kudos to you Pho Basil!
I hope it stays for a long time.
Pho Basil has helluva lot better pho than Pho & I and other places within walking distance. I've eaten there twice in three days. The meat cuts remind me of Pho Thien Thien, where the rare beef is cut thin and the well done beef is cut thick. The soup is not as tasty as Pho Thien Thien, but at least it is not greasy like Pho Hoa. The first time I went, they were using a wider-than-"normal" noodle (but not as wide as foon). The second time, they used a variety of noodles, and the portion for the XL was hearty. Plus, the noodles were a little al dente, making for pleasing slurping and chewing.
I wouldn't recommend the boba tea here; the bubbles I had (last time only) were chewy like mochi--too chewy for me.
Glad this place opened up right before it starts to get chilly in Boston!
Had the lemongrass beef soup noodle as well as the spicy shrimp rice plate. The place is inexpensive, and the food was solid. The place is clean, pleasant, and the service is awesome. What else can you asked for in a lunch place?
Boston, MA
Category: Thai
Boston, MA
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
Category: Vietnamese
Boston, MA
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Category: Vietnamese
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