14th street 54 Noodles Bar — Restaurant in Washington

54 Noodles Bar is a great addition to the 14th Street restaurant scene. This outpost of the popular downtown restaurant serves up authentic Vietnamese cuisine in a friendly, inviting atmosphere.

We stopped by during their soft opening, so they weren't yet operating at full hours and their liquor license is still in the works. But the food is the main attraction here.

We started with the vegetarian summer rolls, which contain a nice balance of tofu and veggies, with just the right amount of cilantro to add bright notes. The peanut dipping added bold flavor. We also had the chicken wings, which were hot and juicy with a tangy sauce.

The pho is phenomenal, built with a delicious broth (one of the best I've ever tasted), fresh, tender meats, and traditional noodles. The shrimp banh mi was also delicious, with marinated grilled shrimp, fresh mild onion, other assorted veggies, and mayo. I'm not a big fan of mayo, so next time I'll ask for less. But overall, a great sandwich.

Our server, Nasim, was so welcoming and friendly, she seemed genuinely glad to see us -- a stark contrast to so many other servers in DC. The owners stopped by to say hello and thank us for coming, a sure sign that they are focused on their customers and will do well. We'll...

I was starving when I landed in DC, and 54 Noodles Bar was just the thing I needed.

The restaurant was within walking distance of my hotel and had plenty of open seating as it was after the lunch rush. I was quickly seated and presented the pho menu. I opted for the chicken pho and tofu salad rolls. Looking back, that was probably too much food, but did I mention I was starving.

The food came out quick, and the portion sizes were very generous. It was also just what I needed. The broth was tasty, and they gave lots of chicken, noodles, and veggies to go along with it. It was a very satisfying meal.

If you are in the area and craving some hot, delicious, and easy on the wallet pho make sure to put 54 Noodles Bar on your list.

Oh, one last thing. If you need to use the restroom here, be careful. It is located below street level, and you have to go down essentially a closet full of stairs. That also means...

5 stars all around! Food is good, and the portions are generous. The servers are very friendly and attentive. Josh was wonderful! The fried dumplings were amazing. Very clean and comfortable space. I highly recommend trying 54 Noodle Bar.

Added 2/21/25:

I was visiting family in D.C. for a week and went to 54 Noodles Bar three times. I went two days in a row it was so good. The Pad Thai (I had it with tofu) is excellent with lots of flavor and wonderful presentation. I couldn't leave D.C. without having the fried dumplings again!

Robert (one of the owners) is very friendly and knows how to treat customers. Lada, their head server, is the best!

54 Noodles Bar has only been open for a few weeks. Go give them some love, and they will give you some really...