5ive Spice Tacos & Banh Mi — Restaurant in New York

The restaurant is cramped and busy but gives a homey vibe as their servers are really friendly.

Their restroom is hidden behind the sauce wall so make sure you check it out (I won’t tell you I came mainly bc of this cute secret restroom lol)

＊ 5ive Special Pho This signature pho can satisfy all meat lovers’ cravings. Hunks of thinly-sliced raw Angus briskets, eye round and bouncy beef balls swam among the deeply aromatic broth. My favorite was certainly the boneless braised short ribs, which were fall-apart tender. $19 for this quality and portion of beef makes it a true winner over the other phos in the city.

＊ Rooster Wings We ordered chicken wings to share, recommended by our friendly server. The wings were crisped to perfection, seasoned with minced garlic and chilli. Not impressive but a nice appetizer to kick start your meal.

＊ Spring Rolls (4pcs) Fresh and hot. I was amazed the fried spring rolls weren’t greasy at all. Each spring roll was filled with minced pork, shrimp and veggies, with pickled carrot on the side. The fish sauce was completed with sweet, savory and zesty flavors, serving as a lovely accompaniment to the rolls.

＊ Shaking Beef Vermicelli They used angus short ribs and I could really tell the difference as the meat was so tender and braised with black pepper sauce. There was also heaps of beef so I could enjoy my vermicelli with meat until the very last bite. All the veggies were fresh and complement well wish fish sauce. I shared it with my company but it was still hard to finish a bowl.

＊ Lemongrass Porkchop Banh Mi It was good but not as spectacular as the other two. The baguette was on point with a crispy outer and a soft center. The grilled boneless porkchop was cooked to perfection - desirable meat-fat ratio, juicy and flavorful.

**Cash only

My Recommendations: Spring Roll, Shaking Beef Vermicelli, 5ive Special Pho

Worth...

Now let me start off by saying that I was a pho virgin just about three weeks ago. A wonderful friend suggested that I'd give pho a shot since I had been sick with a cold. I am glad I took her advice. I have been hook ever since. After seeing 5ive Spice mentioned in an email Yelp sent. I made a mental note to check them out.

Then 5ive Spice's positive reviews reeled me. Plus, all of them taco pics had me drooling! My only pho experience thus far has been at Mama Pho in Williamsburg. Their pho is always on point.

After a tiring shift at work, and feeling hungry I called my bestie so we could go get pho. After a quick yes, and 45mins later we were at 5ive Spice. The place was full and the wait wasn't long, 20mins. For a place as popular as this one, we found it odd that the restroom was out of order. Why?!

My friend ordered the chicken pho and shrimp tacos. I got the vegetable pho and catfish tacos. The presentation was beautiful. The pho broth was tasteless. I thought perhaps since I'd ordered the vegetable pho that the broth was vegetable stock. Nope, it wasn't just mine. My friend mentioned hers wasn't tasty either. She frequents Mama Pho as well, so I know she knew what I was comparing it to. We were both disappointed. I had to wait longer for my tacos because they made a mistake by bringing out chicken tacos instead of catfish. I did enjoy the tacos, but I wouldn't go out of my way for them.

All in all 5ive Spice is cool, but I will stick to what I know. Mama Pho which is...

Great spot for lunch or dinner. The locale is perfect for whether you are going to the game or just hanging out in the neighborhood. Few downsides to take note of but nothing major to refuse yourself a delicious Vietnamese meal. Let's start with the pros:

Pros: The food is absolutely delicious and, best of all, the presentation is fantastic as well. It's definitely worth the dining experience. Service is incredible. They're very attentive to your needs. The atmosphere is really good. Just a quaint little shop on the corner serving delicious food. Usually I don't include this in reviews but the music is nice. Makes me feel like I'm on first date in high school if you consider that a good take away.

Cons: Cash only; come on! In a society where we can pay with our phone that has to be a down Not kid friendly; it's not that there's pornography every where, it's just the seats are too few and if one family comes in then your out of the game. No alcohol; now I've never been a person to knock an eatery based on lack of beverage but given the location; it's a bad thing. You want this place to be the ultimate pre/post game spot considering their reasonable price.

Price: Reasonable as mentioned before. You won't break the bank unless you come here every day.

Perfect place for: Date night, lunch spot and yes, even pre/post game stop because your stomach will thank you for delicious meal after sitting next to some fan with...