Pho Le — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

If you're in Ho Chi Minh City and craving a bowl of phở that delivers both authenticity and flavour, Phở Le is a must-visit. Known for its longstanding reputation and consistently delicious phở, this local favorite offers a taste of true Vietnamese comfort food.

The phở here is nothing short of outstanding. The broth is rich, aromatic, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of spices. It has a deep, savoury flavour that you can tell has been simmering for hours, and it’s wonderfully clear, unlike many phở broth that can be greasy. I had the beef slices and beef balls phở, and the slices of beef were tender and flavourful, with the perfect amount of marbling to make each bite melt in your mouth. The noodles were soft and fresh, and the generous portion of herbs, bean sprouts, and lime allowed me to customize the dish to my liking. Their iced coffee drink is a must get as well.

What really sets Phở Le apart is the quality of the ingredients. The beef is fresh and cuts like butter, and you can tell the herbs and vegetables are always top-notch. The side condiments—fresh chili, hoisin sauce, and sriracha—are also a great way to enhance the flavour, giving you the perfect balance of spice and heat.

The restaurant itself is simple but comfortable, with a no-frills, local vibe. The staff is friendly and efficient, and despite being a popular spot, the service is quick, and the phở is served steaming hot within minutes of ordering. While it can get busy during peak hours, the turnover is fast, so you won’t have to wait long for your bowl.

Prices are very reasonable, especially considering the quality of the phở. For the portion size and the flavor you get, Phở Le offers great value for money.

Would I return? Absolutely. Phở Le is a staple for anyone looking for authentic phở in Ho Chi Minh City. Whether you're a phở enthusiast or a first-timer, this place will surely leave you satisfied and...

My experience at Pho Le Nguyen Trai left much to be desired, despite my initial excitement to try their renowned rendition of this Vietnamese classic.

Located somewhat out of the center, the restaurant had a pleasant, open ambiance typical of local eateries. However, our dining experience took a turn for the worse when we were greeted by a waitress who immediately screamed at us, insisting that we had ordered incorrectly and should have opted for the pho with noodles. This abrupt and disrespectful encounter left a sour taste in our mouths from the start.

Nevertheless, we proceeded to try their pho, hoping that the food would make up for the rude service. While the pho was certainly acceptable, it failed to impress us in any remarkable way. Having sampled various pho concoctions throughout Vietnam, we found Pho Le Nguyen Trai's version to be lacking the depth of flavor and complexity that we had come to expect.

To add insult to injury, when we requested the bill, we were shocked to discover that we were charged an additional fee of 20K for using chopsticks and napkins, on top of the already exorbitant price of 200K for two bowls of pho. This unexpected and unreasonable charge left us feeling cheated and disillusioned with the entire dining experience.

Overall, our visit to Pho Le Nguyen Trai was a disappointing one. From the rude service to the lackluster food and unjustified additional charges, we left feeling as though our journey to this out-of-the-way location was not worth the detour or the stop. I would caution other foodies against visiting this establishment and recommend seeking out more reputable and enjoyable dining options...

I'm amending my review from earlier this year which is in another paragraph below which I won't delete. I'm now going to give Pho Le four stars as it's not as good as last time I came. On top of that I've had two bowls at smaller more low key places this week that were both superior and cheaper. Pho Le loses marks not just for quality and price but also service. They put my meat in my partner's bowl and hers in mine so they couldn't even get the order right. On top of that they moved us from an empty table for no reason when we first sat down. And there's still the issue of no Banh Quay. But overall the bowl I was served was still very good but not as good as others I've had this week. The eggs here are still the best, but a combination of food and service not quite being the very best leads me to downgrade them to four stars, which is still very good.

This is a five star pho. One of the best I've had in Vietnam and I've had many. The broth tastes great and they are generous with meat. They put the right amount of herbs and onions and noodles. Do not miss the chance to get an egg with your pho here! In fact they are so good you may want to order two or three! The broth of the egg is lovely too. It would be six stars but for one error... They do not serve...