This is my first time coming here and I've been wanting to try their banh canh cua. It was good but i wish there was more crab. It had strips of cha lua which i was not used to having along with mushrooms. I recently just came back from Vietnam and just wanted to reminisce the experience and flavors. Service was relaxed and quick. Definitely a mom and pop shop. Has pictures of Vietnamese culture and family photos. My next try would be their turmeric noodles! read more

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We came on a Sunday and they were only serving pho Bac and mi quang (which can be spiiccccyyy). Both were delicious. It is a hole in the wall with a James Beard plaque. I would come again but do to go since there is limited seating. But service was friendly. Each bowl was about $20. read more

The VL family knows pho. Chicken Curry Pho $17 ~ owner was welcoming and suggested to try it and the creamy curry broth was delicious! Came out nice and hot so you will be warming up quickly on a cold day. Peppery Pork Ball Soup $17 ~ also a good belly warmer, clean broth and tasty meatballs. Open early at 8am for a soothing hangover remedy. Parking is still limited. read more

Ha VL - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I have been here multiple times during this past year and have eaten everything on the rotating menu since there was so much hype about it. Well it didn't do it for me! I appreciate introducing various noodle soup throughout three regions of Vietnam. However the flavor and overall quality of what offered felt short and didn't live up to the hype, at least for me, a native born and raised in Vietnam. They do sold out on certain soups since they only make a special amount each day so plan accordingly if you're a fan or call ahead. Super tiny space with boxes stacked up and out in the back section of the room. Shared parking space with a few other eateries in this area right off 82nd Avenue. Service could be rush at times since the space is limited and they get impatient when people wait for table. read more

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This place is top tier. I had only heard great things about this place and I was not disappointed. We went a little before 10am on a Sunday and were seated immediately! I ate the best pho I've ever tried! It was so flavorful and fresh! There weren't a ton of tables but we sat for long enough to see people moving through quickly! read more

Ha VL - Beef Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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i had tried its sister restaurant rose vl deli a few times and it always delivered. finally got the chance to check out ha vl and the menu was even more limited, which i personally like as long as the food is good. and was it good. very warm and comforting, the broth is bomb and just so fragrant deep rich flavors overall. i went on a sunday and had the turmeric noodle soup (i think that was the name - see my photo of the menu) and it really delivered. i need to return. and lastly, just an observation - the parking lot is a tad inconvenient and small, and it felt like i was in china or vietnam or something so that added to the experience lol. anyway, i will return for sure. very good. read more

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This is one of the best Northern Vietnamese restaurants I've tried in the Pacific Northwest. The soup was absolutely delicious, and we'll definitely be back on our next visit to Oregon. read more

I need to try this place again. I went and had the crab soup with udon noodles, it was tasty but smaller size. I enjoyed the flavors but as a first time, not sure what to expect. The soup is thick, crab is flaked, the noodles are well done and had a piece of pork and some pork meatloaf. The service was nice and efficient. Looked like a mixture of regulars and people who come from word of mouth. The parking can get iffy and there's limited seating so try to go on weekday? I liked it but would like to try their other offerings. read more

Ha VL - Crab flake soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Hole in the wall, and a different set menus for every day of the week. Incredibly friendly, clean inside. Three James beard awards! Vietnamese iced coffee was strong like I like it. Ordered the chicken curry noodle soup, first bite, initial thought was that I wasn't very impressed but after eating the chicken and then going back to the broth and the noodles I was sold and I felt like I would've sold my soul to get this recipe. It was so delicious and it's really nourished my soul. It was so good. Came in at 9:30 AM and it was packed. Definitely coming back with the family. read more

This is a slightly above average pho place. It has more creative garnishes/noodle soup offerings - I liked the fried pork skin bits. However there is still a lot of msg in the soup. I actually got the msg thirst DURING the meal (and I split a single bowl!) instead of afterwards which means there was lots of additives :( read more

Ha VL - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I'm upset that I found this place so late during my time living in the Portland area. When I think about pho, this is the exact kind of pho I dream about having. The noodle soup is so flavorful, the price is just right, and it just makes you want more all at the same time. They have rotating menus daily, so check what they have! I'm planning on going different days just so I can try the different menu items they offer. read more

Ha VL - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Super nice people here with good service, hot tea, two noodle soups to choose from. Came here on a Friday and had the chicken pho and pnompenh noodle soup, one of each! So glad we got one of each so we could try two very different broths. Pnompenh noodle soup: rich pork broth that smells of seafood, you can really smell the difference with the pho! Came with different toppings including lettuce (? It was morning and didn't really pay attention), bean sprouts, lime, and chili oil instead of hoisin and Sriracha. Lots of green onion in this soup too. I liked the sliced BBQ pork and shrimp. Chicken pho: comes with a lot of chicken and very tender pieces at that! Very good broth with lots of chicken flavor, very soothing in the morning. Enjoyed how much they gave of both meat and noodles. I tried to pick a favorite soup, but they were just so different it's hard to choose! Makes me want to visit on other days to try other noodle soups. Looking forward to another visit! read more

Ha VL - Chicken pho (Friday) - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I can't get enough of this place. I constantly crave their noodle soup. This is the first location of their 3 family run daily soup locations (Rose VL, and Annum VL being the other two). Be aware to check their menu before making your way to their restaurant, as their menu cycles daily. Also, they do close early once they run out that day. read more

Ha VL - Turmeric noodle soup (Sunday) - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Soup was very tasty, especially the pork balls. Small place, clean. Service is fast. Although be careful enunciating what you want, I keep telling the waitress "2 Pork Soup", she keeps telling me "2 beef?". Not sure if she's deaf or just couldn't understand English. read more

Ha VL - Menu - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Late post, but I still think about the noodles my husband and I had from here and hope one day I can come back to eat this again. Came here on a Sunday afternoon and there was still a few hours before they closed. Restaurant was filled and when we walked in, the hostess informed us they only had one more bowl of soup available for the day. We had been eating all day so we were ok to share the one bowl seeing that it was also the soup we wanted to try. While we sat and waited, the waitress came by to tell us they had a phone cancellation and asked if we wanted to have the second bowl. We kindly refused. It just happened that they had to turn a woman away since they were sold out for the day, but since we refused the second bowl; the male employee went out to find the lady to see if she wanted to come back for that last bowl of soup for the day. She got her meal and we got ours, all our lucky days! The restaurant only serves certain items each day. We wanted to try the Mi Quang and we were blown away. Flavor was so delicious and rich. We cleared up the entire bowl. My husband and I joked that we should have taken that second bowl because it was so good. We haven't eaten this dish before and now I've been on a lookout to try to find a restaurant that also serves mi quang. Must be rare because I haven't found very many near me that has this soup. I'll be sure to visit again to try other dishes but if I land on a day where there is mi quang again, I'll have to get that one. I tell many friends that this was one of our favorite stops of our trip. So glad we were able to try it. read more

Ha VL - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The Vietnamese scene in Portland is one of the country's most underrated and places like Ha VL are certainly on the forefront of it all. Known for its homey vibe and delicious food, it has become a local favorite and one of the city's most well known noodle soup destinations. The premise is simple: each day they serve 2-3 soups until sold out. One day it's pho ga and bun rieu and another day it's bun moc and hu tieu bo kho. If one does have a preference, just remember the day for your favorite soup and get there at a decent time before they run out. Ultimately it doesn't matter which day one goes, it's all going to be tasty and comforting. I appreciate all of their food. The various regional pho are indeed wonderful and the northern style pho (pho bac) is probably my my top bowl at the moment, followed closely by the hu tieu and bun thang. Their banh canh is very rich broth wise but the mi quang is also quite good. The prices have crept up mightily over the years. The average bowl here is now $16+. But the portions are substantial. The husband and wife team that run place are wonderful people and the rest of the staff provide exemplary service. They aren't open on Monday or Tuesday and the hours end in the late afternoon almost always after lunch. The rotation of daily soups are always subject to change, but whatever they're serving the day I return will be the highlight of my day. read more

Saturday was Bun Bo Hue. I was expecting traditional fare but was disappointed in the outcome. Good brisket and broth but it was not traditional BBH with tendon, huyet (congealed blood) and knuckles. read more

Vietnamese soup with Sha-ZAAM! Wonderfully punchy flavors. Love this place. A little strange to drive into a former motor court motel and park on the interior. Scan the circle of businesses (including rental units) and find this place for great food. read more

Friday dish! I have to go back! It was so tasteful and filling! Good to eat alone or with a group. read more

Ha VL - Friday dish! I have to go back! It was so tasteful and filling! Good to eat alone or with a group. - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

My absolute favorite location in all of Portland for some excellent pho and breakfast noodle soup. The food is packed with flavor. You can only get these two soups Saturday mornings and they sell out quickly, so I recommend getting there early. The employees are kind and welcoming and attentive to your needs. The atmosphere is cozy and warm. I highly recommend! You'll be addicted after one visit. Cheers! read more

Ha VL - Spicy noodle soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Have heard about this place for a long time and it exceeded expectations! I had the crab soup on Thursday and the thicker noodles and different flavors were unreal! Out of the trip this was a highlight of a meal! read more

Satisfying bowl of pho on a cold wet day. I wish it wasn't a rotating menu because I wanted to try something different, but I guess that means I just need to go back! read more

Review type: Live Review as I am eating here First, I want to thank all my Yelp friends and family for this 500th review. It's been an honor to entertain you throughout these years on Yelp and will continue this endless journey of great food and eats. Cheers! I've been learning Vietnamese for a month now and being a Vietnamese food lover myself especially for a Sunday.. I like to have some comforting bowl of noodles. So here I am at Ha VL and they serve two different kinds of dishes only each day from Wednesday through Sunday, that are focused on the different regions of Vietnam and you can order a side of coffee hot or cold with an option of having condensed milk as well. Today it boils down to either the Northern Pho dish or the Central Vietnam dish Mi Quang turmeric noodles. Unfortunately, I can't choose both as my stomach cannot fit both. Hard choices in life sometimes. Guess what I selected? Their Northern Pho for this Sunday special. I mean I can't go wrong with that especially it's a gloomy Pacific Northwest Sunday. So here it comes, as you can see in the attached photo, it has sliced loin strips and meatballs with some cilantro, onions and scallions. Tastes really lite. Broth needs more richness in beef and a little more seasoning. Meat is decent. Nothing to rave too much about, but glad I tried it. The pho is only one size and looks more like a small bowl that can use more meat for the price of $17.50 per bowl. Also, since this is the 500th review, and because the pho was small, and to make matters easier, I ended up ordering their Mi Quang. It contains: sliced shrimp cake, shrimp, pork ribs, sliced pork meatloaf, sliced pork, ground pork, ground shrimp topped with peanuts, sesame rice cracker and most of all, turmeric noodles. So here it goes, my first time trying this. It tastes much better, should've ordered this instead, but glad the pho was small and so I still ended up ordering this. The shallot and deep flavor of the seafood tasting broth tastes great. The turmeric noodles are pretty soft and flavorful. The shrimp cake has a deep shrimp flavor to it. This should be what you come for for a Sunday. The sesame cracker was stale, but when dipped in the broth is pretty tasty. To drink, I had their iced coffee. They had the option of sweet, medium, or strong. I chose medium, but it tasted really strong, one tone, and I swore I ordered condensed milk with it; can barely taste it. Service was decent. Pho took a while. So did Mi Quang. But Mi Quang is a way better dish and was more worth it with the amount of things that went into it. Place is pretty small and I had to share a big table with another family. It is tucked in with a Chinese Hot Pot place around the corner. So drive slowly and you'll find it. read more

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Finally got to catch them while they were open with food left, so updating review as promised. It was delicious, not spectacular but definitely perfectly home cooked, cozy soups. Sweet owners, fast service. A hole in the wall but extremely popular. read more

On Sunday, they have only two dishes on the menu: pho bac, & mi Quang. Very good mi Quang!! It's on the soupy side so it's easy to eat, and light. The mi quang noodles were really tasty and smooth. If you've tried mi Quang before sometimes it can be tiring to eat- mi Quang & becomes mi ngán.! My sister doesn't even like mi Quang but she liked this one. We'll probably be back to try their bánh canh cua. The only thing is that the food came out a bit slow even though there were 2 dishes on the menu. Personally, I felt like there was a lot more msg that is tolerable for me. I wouldn't eat this regularly because I'm a bit sensitive to it- but I think it's worth it when I'm craving for mi Quang. Lol, I love the family pictures it's giving Vietnamese Chaebols. read more

Ha VL - Inside - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I can't sing HaVL's praises enough. I am a big sucker for good soup and I highly recommend everything I've tried here, you really cannot go wrong. Their portions are solid and their depth of flavor is literally unparalleled, I am just so comforted whenever I come here. The turmeric noodle soup (Sundays) is probably my favorite and I haven't found it elsewhere. Very family-owned vibe in a small location, and service is always fast & friendly. Don't come too late in the day as they will probably sell out, and sometimes they are randomly closed for vacations or holidays so maybe call them ahead of time just in case! read more

Ha VL - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

An excellent Vietnamese restaurant specializing in a variety of Vietnamese noodle soups. Each day features a couple of rotating soups! It's tucked away in a little plaza with a parking lot. I came on a Thursday and ordered the banh canh cua (crab flake noodle soup) and it was divine! The broth had depth and flavor. The noodles were thick and slightly chewy. The pork and shrimp were delicious and tender! The order came with a plate of vegetables to add to your plate as you'd like. They also serve hot tea. Service was great and I enjoyed the Vietnamese music playing on tv. I can't wait to try the rest of the menu! read more

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Can't go wrong with a dish here. Everything is good. 5 stars for sure. Should be Michelin rated. Have a great day! read more

Ha VL - Beef stew - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Portland knows it's Vietnamese soups! First time they were closed because they sold out so second try was a succuss. It was a Sunday so Northern Pho and Mi Quang. Pho broth was not too great and very flavorful. Good meat portions. Mi Quang is a neat dish with assorted textured ingredients, not found in most Vietnamese restaurants. Gotta try out the other days! read more

Ha VL - Pho Bac - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I got their beef pho here once and love it--and I typically don't seek out pho. I wish that they offered it everyday! We've come on different days of the week every visit and have had pretty good experiences. My husband (who loves soups) has relished every bowl of noodles he's ordered. The last time we came here I got the chicken pho which I thought was just so-so... not as exciting or flavorful as their beef pho. read more

Ha VL - November 2022 - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I've tried to come here several times, never was able to make it considering my schedule. Came into here today with a sour stomach....desperate for some broth to help sooth my stomach. Absolutely adore the flavor and delicacy with the broth, made me feel better instantly. Thank you so much!!! Also I got a pho at 8:30 in the morning....wow!!! This will be my breakfast spot from now on! read more

They usually only offer 2 soups each day. I ordered the beef pho. It has good flavor. The portios are smaller than usual pho places. read more

Ha VL - Beef pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This was exactly what I needed on a foggy and gloomy morning while visiting Portland. I came on a Thursday and now regretting I couldn't fit the bún ốc in too. read more

Ha VL - Bánh canh cua - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Went in the morning to get takeout for dinner. Kept really well in the fridge and all tasted super great heated back up. Service was quick and atmosphere was really lively. The rotating menu has a lot of interesting options so keep an eye on that. We'll definitely be going back! read more

If you're reading this review, chances are you've already heard about this place. Don't question it; whatever you've been told is true.

Went there on a Sunday and the Tumeric and Pho was bomb.com. Definitely will go back next time we're in PDX

Probably the very best of all the pho places in Portland, along with its sister establishment, Rose VL. Daily specials on the menu are highly recommended. Nice, clean place, good service, brilliant food. read more

Wow! Amazing flavor and excellent service. Really enjoyed the focus on making their main dish great. Really makes me miss the PNW after leaving here in 2017. read more

Ha VL - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Had this place on my bucket list for several years. Dropped in for lunch after shopping at Hong Phat on a Friday, Ordered each of two soups offered.; both were very savory and outstanding. Got seated quickly and bowls arrived fairly quickly. The restaurant has about 8 tables and filled up quickly. Parking is tight. Would love to return and try other offerings. read more

Ha VL - Pho Ga - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I had high hopes and was really impressed. I had the Chicken Curry Lemongrass. The broth was fragrant and light but with deep flavor. The Carrots and potatoes were cooked just right. This is Vietnamese soul food. read more