Madame Vo — Restaurant in New York

I came here in Dec 2016 when they just opened for the first time, and I came back here Nov 2022 after almost six years for the second time, and there are a bit changes in a good way. Highly recommended for picky Vietnamese tourists when you travel to NYC if you're looking for a Vietnamese restaurant with decent and authentic Pho.

I'm a picky Vietnamese eater since this is my food, and I was born and raised there for 21 years. The first time I tried the Phở with the ribs here was a WOW, and the second time, after a long time, it was hard to express but a bit saltier than what I remember.

They used to have a decorative bowl with a Chinese style and stand out for the food since not many Vietnamese restaurants used it, and I loved it. Now they changed to the white bowl, and it's normal as elsewhere.

This time I almost ordered the Pho with ribs again because it was delicious and authentic; I got recommended to try the spicy beef noodles (Bún Bò Huế/BBH), and I hesitated to try a different option since not sure it was good or not, but it turned out so damn yummy, tasty, and pretty impressive with the tastes that surprised me since I had not experienced and eaten/found this in Southern California.

Note: The BBH was cooked and inspired by the Southern style of Vietnam, so it did not taste like lemongrass or contain pig blood jelly. Please be aware of the differences, and do not feel disappointed if it tastes differently.

You will see two of those ingredients in the Middle region of Vietnam since the people cook them differently. Why did I know this? My gramma is from the Middle region and cooked this all the time, but my dad and family lived in the South, so I was blessed to try both; so would like to share and inform you about this :) I hope it is helpful.

The last call to order is 9:30 pm since they close at 9:45 pm, but you can stay long past the closing time with no rush. Thanks, the chief server, for accommodating us for the late arrival at 9:27 pm, and we can still make an order. Please ensure to call them and inform them if you're running late like me and try to make it to the best Pho place so far in...

Such beautiful decor, with lots of modern touches and westernised Vietnamese atmosphere. A short walk from the subway, our party of 3 landed at Madame Vo to experience some staple Vietnamese dishes. First n foremost the service recieved by the waiter was impeccable with such attentive and prompt service, he was joyful and made us have such a plesant experience. Our party of 3 started with crispy squid which as a 10/10 appetizer with an awesome accompanying green sauce, the batter was just right, and the texture of squid was perfect, the chicken wing in fish sauce appetizer really reminded me of Vietnamese street food found in southern parts, it was sweet with hint of tangyness to it. For mains we ordered a Pho with the extra spare ribs, Bun Bo Hue and Tet noodles. Pho: I was dissapointed to have such a signature dish which was meant to have very rich flavours in the broth become so bland, this is not what Pho should taste like in either the North or Southern parts of Vietnam, the brisket was so tough and rubber like my jaw is still cramping from the chewing that was required , a 2/10 (Maybe I am a bit harsh, but I am phosure this could be deffinetly improved.) Bun Bo Hue: The colour of the broth was on point but that’s probably the only thing that was right about it, a lack of accompanying herbs and lack of flavour and essential BBH ingredients was such a dissapointing dish also 2/10. Tet Noodles: I wonder if this is a dish found in the middle parts of Vietnam, however the flavours were as described on the menu, this was a reccomendation from the waiter and...

COME EAT HERE. It’s so so so good and worth every penny. Make sure you have a reservation because this place is booked and busy. You CAN walk in but expect to wait 45-90min for a table or even a seat at the bar. Also it’s a tight spot. There is not somewhere for you to wait and no outdoor seating so keep that in mind.

Service is incredible. Everyone is so so sweet and quick to serve you.

Food: garlic noodles is a MUST. Add in chicken for some extra protein and flavor but it’s quite good on its own!! I think we could have added a bit more of the sauce used to make this dish because some bites felt a bit dry but overall I would get this again. The spicy chicken wings is a must have starter. Crispy, spicy, a tad bit sweet, wings are a great size, and the quantity of wings was perfect for 2-3 people. The Ga Xao Xa Ot (stir fried chicken) is my absolute favourite. The sauce in that dish is a garlicky and sticky with hint of sweetness with a kick to it. Paired with the rice is the perfect bite omfg. I will forever order this.

Drinks: paper lantern and madame sour are tangy and well made. They were presented well and not overwhelmingly sweet.

I’ve already come here 3 times. I definitely need to come back and try the rest of...