Best Banh Mi in Portland hands down!! I eat plant based whole food so I can only speak on the mushroom Banh Mi and the tofu Banh Mi. They can both be made vegan. The pho is also top notch! The staff is friendly, food comes out fresh and fast, and restaurant is always clean! The atmosphere is always very chill and I love sitting on the rocking chairs out front watching the world go by. This is my go to spot when I take myself out on dates. It's recommend Lela's for anyone looking to explore 23rd. Do yourself a favor and come eat in here!!! read more

Great food, love the vermicelli bowls. It's been a while since I've been here, but it's still as good as ever! Definitely priced higher than other spots in the city with similar dishes, but delicious nonetheless. read more

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The tofu banh mi was so good! I would definitely come back to get it. It wasn't dry. Had a good amount of sauce on the roll and another sauce on the tofu. The veggies were nice and crisp. The roll was crunchy yet soft. The veggie soup was flavorful. I wish the temperature was hotter as it came warm and cooled off fast. Decent size eatery. Clean bathrooms. read more

Lela's Bistro - Tofu Banh Mi Combo - Fried Tofu (v) with veggie soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Lela's Bistro was just ok. The ambiance was homey and cute - in a house converted to a business on NW 23rd, it is in a great, touristy location. However, the food was just ok. The menu has good variety - pho, bowls, banh mi, curries, with plenty of protein options. The flavors were lacking and you can get better Vietnamese food in SE Portland. I got the pork belly noodle bowl and it was just alright. Portion sizes were fair, but the pork belly wasn't flavorful and also a bit tough. Lela's Bistro has tough competition from the other Vietnamese eateries we have in around Portland, but Lela's effort isn't unnoticed. I don't think we have the best food options on NW 23rd, so Lela's is just up to par. They are not my choice for Vietnamese, but may do the job if you are in the area! read more

Lela's Bistro - Pork belly noodle bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Such a cute and cozy spot and so yummy!! I was initially hesitant about a "cup of pho" as a side bc we don't usually eat like this, but it was perfect, warm, flavorful, and complimented the meal very well. Lemongrass chicken bánh mì was very good. Good textured bread and ratios of veggies + meat. One of the go-to local spots. Love the patio and rocking chairs. Friendly staff and fast service. read more

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I've had Lela's bookmarked after watching a Mike Chen video so it was the perfect time to check it out on a Monday off. I've tried to go other days before but they were closed so had to stop by to check out the restaurant at lunch. Be sure to come earlier since they had a continuous line of people showing up for lunch/picking up their takeout (good sign if you ask me!) I've had some of their sandwiches and other apps at the bar downstairs a while back so it gave me a bit of a teaser for the place. For lunch we ended up trying their pho and their salad bowl with lemongrass chicken. Their pho had a different broth than I typically go for in the sense that it was a little more peppery. It might be from the area the recipe is from and was still light. It was still pretty good and I finished it so nice to know it's an option if I want pho and don't want to do to 82nd. As for the bowl it was a nice option to get if you want a dish packed with veggies and light for lunch. It came with different sauces to try with the chicken so be sure to play around with flavors. Good flavors overall and nice balance to the soup. Their outdoor patio seating is a great spot to enjoy your meal while getting a chance to people watch. read more

I had intended to come to Lela's Bistro for lunch but I found myself in NW and starving on a Tuesday night. It was a great visit! The pho was piping hot and delicious. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very low key with quiet music and pleasant vibes. You order at the counter and pay and then they bring your food out. I like this setup as you don't have a server coming around. Just my preference. Anyways, another pho joint checked off the list. A+ Lela's Bistro! read more

Lela's Bistro - Pho - Beef (gf) - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Our favorite place for Vietnamese food. A lovely old house with cozy ambiance and delicious food. The pho is always our go-to. 10/10 every time! read more

Lela's Bistro - Pho - Chicken (gf) - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Easily the best Bahn mi I've ever had. The portion was a perfect size for me to share, even though this was so good that I would've loved to have eaten the whole thing. The flavors were great, I loved the sauce in the Bahn mi. The pho was also great; a perfect addition to the sandwich. It was pretty quick to get my food. I'm already making plans to visit again. read more

Lela's Bistro - Banh Mi Combo - Fried Eggs (v) Pho - Vegetarian (gf,v)Pho - Beef (gf) - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Ordered beef pho for $17.50 before tip. Just as good as I remember when I lived down the street. Service is friendly and efficient. My food comes super fast in 10 minutes and pair that with the old Portland house atmosphere it feels cozy. Also, a lot of places don't boil their bones long enough for the collagen to infuse the broth, this place definitely spends a long time on their broth. Family owned so that's huge plus. read more

Lela's Bistro - Pho - Beef (gf) - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Chicken pho was good, flavorful and fresh. Ambience is nice. Service was a little slow at lunchtime definitely worth a stop but expensive to be a regular. read more

I was looking for healthier Vegan options after my yoga class today and I checked several restaurants nearby. Lela's was the only one with clear Vegan options, it was nice not having to search the menu inside out or deconstruct dishes. Josh was friendly and helpful. Highly recommend. read more

Lela's Bistro - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Cute little Vietnamese spot that makes you feel so cozy on a busy street! Great service despite it being a place where you order & pay ahead of being seated. The servers were attentive and kind. The food was great. I got the crispy pork belly noodles, and the pork belly was perfection. It paired well with the noodles and fresh veggies along with their fish sauce dressing. read more

Lela's Bistro - Noodle Bowl w/Pork Belly (gf) - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Such a cute place on 23rd in Portland! It's in a converted old house, you can sit inside or out on the porch. The FOOD is Fantastic! We had a salad roll, pork & shrimp, that was delicious! I love salad rolls! I also love pork with shrimp, such a great combo! Then we both ordered a Banh Mi Lemon Grass Chicken with a choice of a cup of Pho or a salad. I went with the beef Pho and my husband went with the chicken Pho. The Pho was AMAZING! Soooooo goooood! Definitely get at least a cup of Pho. The Banh Mi's were also perfect. Fresh and delicious with fresh vegetables and herbs & the chicken was perfectly seasoned and moist. Seriously, I could have a Banh Mi for lunch Every Day. Highly recommend this place and we will be back! read more

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Surprisingly slow, I might consider only when I have time for a longer lunch. Food was okay. Classic banh mi was just that. The pho was bloody scalding, but flavorful once it cooled down an hour later. Let's see, what else... passable iced coffee, nice folks, too expensive. read more

Lela's is nearby my office so I've come for many team lunches. The food is pretty good. I've had better pho though. The staff is nice. You have to bus yourself. The cucumber water is yummy. The seating can get full at lunch. The food can take a while to come sometimes. read more

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I was a little reluctant to try this place after reading the reviews but I had already mentioned it to my coworker who really had to try it. I was dragging my feet on the way here but I ended up having a really great experience. I ordered the beef pho and I now understand what people mean when they say it's not your typical run-of-the-mill pho broth. The pho broth is light and refreshing, it doesn't give you that bloated sodium overload feeling. It actually reminds me of the pho I had in the central region of Vietnam. The restaurant itself is situated in a historic house which is super cool. I didn't want to leave after my meal. The servers were friendly and professional. I highly recommend this place. read more

We love dog friendly patios! The egg rolls and salad rolls were really good! I always find getting 3 rolls is awkward when it's just two, though. I also wasn't a huge fan of their nước mắm. The subs were delicious! I liked the amount of veggies, I wish it had been stuffed with more protein, though. I got the vegan pho option and liked it more than the regular that my partner had, especially when dipping the bánh mì. The regular one was a bit sweet. read more

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Located alongside 23rd is a very hole in the wall Vietnamese spot. The service was fast and the people working there are very friendly and attentive. We were a big group so we had to shift tables around which is all good and they even helped us along the way. I got the banh mi and pho broth and it was good! The banh mi you can tell is freshly made and the pho broth was rather sweet for my taste. All in all, it's good food, but a little overpriced for what it is. read more

Lela's Bistro - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Best banh mi sandwiches! Always hits the spot! Service was also great. Would recommend to anyone looking for some solid Vietnamese food

My go to spot for lunch. They never fail to give me a great Bahn Mhi and the soup (broth) is the best I've had in town. Everything is good here and the service is great! If you're there on the weekend, try grandmas place downstairs! read more

I was a bit hesitant to try this spot out because as a Vietnamese person, I have pretty high standards for pho. Located on 23rd, there's a lot to do before and after you grab a bite here, and just like so many other shops, it's really cute inside. With plenty of spacing, the restaurant feels more like a home turned restaurant and I love it. I got their banh mi and broth, but my friend got their pho. First, their banh mi was pretty standard. It wasn't anything out of this world but I would definitely get it again! Their pho on the other hand was pretty unique. It's not anything like I've had in the past (what I consider really authentic, Southern Vietnamese pho), but I still really liked it. It was a sweeter, lighter broth than what you would expect--not so strong on the five spice or richness that you would typically get form beef stock. However, the portion was perfect and it left me wanting more. Overall, as the pho is so different to what I've had, I wouldn't come here for pho if I were craving it, but I would definitely come back for *their* pho (if that makes sense). read more

Lela's Bistro - Tofu Banh Mi and Broth! - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Lela's is a gem! We ordered and got a nice table. Inside is clean and inviting. The food was out quick. We had the bahn-mi bulgogi combo. The flavors popped! It was so good! The beef was cooked well, the peppers were crisp and fresh. I am saving this location for future meals! Great food, great service! read more

Lela's Bistro - Banh Mi Combo - Beef Bulgogi - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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My friend and I each ordered Beef Pho, and it was quite tasty. The broth had a slightly sweeter side than I prefer, but it was full of flavor. I was considering giving 4 stars, but the meat portion was too small. Aside from that, the service was good, and the interior was clean. There is no dedicated parking lot, and finding street parking nearby can be difficult. read more

I already had my suspicions before we ordered from here that this place was one of those that's hyped up by Americans and would not really live up to traditional Vietnamese standards. But I was sick, and badly craving a bowl of phở, and this place was within a half mile radius so I said why not, let's give it a shot. I got the beef phở and my partner ordered the pork belly vermicelli bowl to go. Upon pickup, my partner asked them if they used MSG in the phở. He was told yes for the phở, but none for the vermicelli bowl. He's severely allergic to MSG and will have a reaction within seconds of ingesting it. And sure enough, the pork belly was covered in MSG, had NO FLAVOR, like absolutely zero, not even saltiness, so why even put MSG in it when it did nothing for the dish. Not to mention the meat was a sad lil portion, definitely not enough meat to justify for the price. Fish sauce was way too sweet, needed more lime to balance out the flavor. My phở broth was decent, but with MSG how hard is that to achieve? I also like a lot of thai basil, cilantro, and bean sprouts in my phở. This order came with just bean sprouts, lime, jalapeño slices, cilantro, and ONE thai basil leaf. What am I supposed to do with one leaf? It's obvious they mainly cater and serve to the average Caucasian who wouldn't mind this. Overall, I would say overpriced, and I would not order from here again. My 3 stars was me being generous. Save your money! read more

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Cute restaurant on NW 23rd. Yummy food, quick service and a nice outside eating area!

Lela's Bistro is a quaint little restaurant where you order and pay before you seat yourself. The server is nice and friendly. The food was good, but spendy! I guess you'll find that everywhere in the Pearl District. I had the lemongrass chicken salad and beef pho broth, the salad was tasty with so much freshness! The pho broth was rich and full of flavor. The salad rolls were good but the peanut butter sauce was terrible. Overall it was a great experience. read more

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SOOOO delicious! Unforgettable clean simple delicious food. Standard yummy drink options. Good service, very quick. Homey interior. read more

Was craving some pho and this did not disappoint! Got the beef pho and the broth was super flavorful! I really was surprised at how flavorful it was! Also got the pork and shrimp salad rolls which were ok. You order at the counter and they bring the food out. Love the front porch and seating both inside and outside. read more

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Such a great place for a snack or a meal! My sis picked up a Vietnamese iced coffee for that afternoon sweet tooth kick and I had to get in on that action. I ended up with some summer rolls too which were a nice big size. Their Bahn mi prices looked great and love the side of pho broth it comes with it. Next time I'm hungry I'm coming here first for Vietnamese cravings read more

The fam and I were in PDX for the afternoon & decided to stop by Lela's Bistro after reading their yelp reviews. We ordered lemongrass chicken Banh mi combos, which comes with a cup of their pho broth or salad. I opted for the salad; their dressing was tasty and refreshing. My husband ordered the cup of pho broth, it was delicious and definitely made me want to try their pho for my next visit. The Banh mi was bursting with savory flavor and loaded with fresh cilantro, pickled daikon & carrots, jalapeños, green onion, and house aioli. The staff were friendly, and the restaurant is located inside a sweet house with cool decor. I wish I lived closer, but I will definitely be back. read more

Lela's Bistro - Lemongrass chicken Banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Nice restaurant on 23rd St. The Banh Mi combo comes with a bowl of pho (choice of broth as well), which is quite unique! It really brings a nice warm presence through the banh mi experience. I dont know why this isnt a more common thing. The Traditional comes with cold cuts and pate which is my standard. Good pickled veggies. There is a sweet glaze they put on that isnt quite traditional but is ok. Beef pho is solid. Great outdoor porch seating with some rocking chairs on one side. read more

Lela's Bistro - Pho - Beef (gf) - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Cute little spot in Northwest Portland easy to grab food and go or they have a cute patio area out front to eat where you can watch the people walk by. Pretty good parking on that end of Northwest 23rd. read more

Pho is such a comforting meal and so is banh mi. I gave this review a 4 stars since I've only been here a few times and would like to try more items on their menu to make it a 5 star review. This cute little eatery is the great social spot to meet and dine with your loved one. Street parking may be tough, but the walk around this neighborhood is worth it. Plus, more hang out time. The pho broth is just soooooo yummy. I feel like pho- depending where you go can go 2 ways. One- very bland and needs hoisin to boost it up. Or Two- it's been made with the right amount of aromatics and flavors. I'm not a chef or a food critic. But I've grown up with friends whose families cooked their pho broth for 24 hours. And this place meets my standards. I could literally drink their broth and use little to no hoisin sauce to boost the flavor. My husband is the only judge for the banh mi since he loves those. But in his plain words "it's good" haha. I would try a piece but by the time I would like a bite, it's gone. read more

Best bahn mi sandwich in town. I wish it were QUIETER inside, but hardwood floor and metal chairs make it really loud if there are ANY conversations going on (which is the ONLY reason I gave 4 instead of 5 stars). There is outside seating and take-out so don't let me discourage you from getting the food! The side salad is fresh and well-portioned. Service is always competent and welcoming. The water is self-serve, and delightfully flavored with fresh cucumbers. I should really try other menu items (noodles, pho) but we can't resist the bahn mi. This is one of our go-to places in read more

Lela's is the only pho spot in this neighborhood, so when the pho craving hits it's slim pickings. Pho's make or break ingredient is the broth, and sadly I've found the broth to be underwhelming here. On separate occasions I've tried the beef and chicken pho; last time I came in, around 1pm on a Saturday, they had run out of beef pho. What kind of pho restaurant runs out of its cornerstone dish at lunchtime?! I got the chicken pho instead, and it was just as bland as the beef pho had been on an earlier visit. The soup is just noodles and shredded chicken, accompanied by a plastic baggie (sustainability yikes) of the usual accoutrements. There's no chili oil or sesame oil available, just sriracha and hoisin sauce. I had to douse my soup in sriracha to taste anything. The broth is missing the aromatics that make pho so delectable. The portions are decently sized, but overpriced at $16 per bowl. Food takes a while to come out, even when it's not particularly crowded. The space has a lot of potential to be cute and homey, but the metal chairs and white-on-white walls and tables feel cold and spare. Some color and decor would do wonders for the old house vibes. Lela's has potential, but needs rejuvenation, both in its physical space and in the flavors of its pho. read more

I stopped in today for lunch (I had tried for the second time to eat Zula-they are Wed-Saturday). The sign outside advertising the Bahn mi pulled me in. I got the bahn mi with the lemon grass chicken and the salad with the beef bulgolgi. The salad was really fabulous, fresh greens, carrots, kimchi, the bulgolgi was steaming hot, bean sprouts, tomato's and a flavorful light vinegrette that made the salad. The bahn mi was a bit dry and flavorless after the salad, although the bread was light, crusty perfection. I would come again and ask for the vinegrette or the peanut sauce with the bahn mi. It was almost like the veggies weren't pickeled. Overall it just needed a bit more flavor to be a bahn mi sando. The mint limeade was spot on however! read more

To start out, I honestly didn't think I would like it as much as I do. The banh mi is the only thing I have gotten and only because it turned out so good, I am afraid if I order something else I might get disappointed (don't think so but I don't want to risk it) The banh mi is actually really good. Stuck to the roots of the "banh mi" I went went the meatball and the chicken soup. Their chicken soup is very well made. Super flavorful. Packs a punch for sure. In my opinion the Thai ice tea is a little too sweet, but if you ask for extra ice, it should balance out. A little on the higher end for a banh mi and tea, but for the location, it's a given. read more

Lela's Bistro - Banh Mi - meatball with Chicken Cup of Pho Soup - Chicken (gf) - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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We've tried lots and lots of pho spots and this one has the best vegan pho. They are also VERY friendly and nice people. Even when you want to pick up and decide to sit outside they'd bring food to you even though they didn't have to. The only reason why 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the use of msg (I checked with them on the phone and they said they were using it unfortunately). Other than that I'd recommend it, especially the tofu - I don't know how they marinate it but it's delicious. Every time I'm sick this is the soup that I believe can heal me :) read more

I'd say this place is good for a couple things: the pho and bahn mi, its drinks, and it's pretty cute and cozy atmosphere. That's about it though. I've been here a couple times and last time I was in I wanted to try the "Noodle Bowl" as this dish is one that I often love to order at Vietnamese places. I don't know how to say this nicely: it was pretty freaking bad. The menu states that the dish has pickled carrots and daikon. There was no daikon and the veggies did not taste pickled in the slightest. The house made fish sauce was in a tiny little container and had no flavor. The whole dish basically had no flavor. The veggies were thick cut and there was like 2 leaves of mint on the bowl. Sad to say it was not good :( I've had the egg rolls here before they are tiny and overpriced. I usually don't write bad reviews but I felt this had to be shared. I do enjoy the pho tho as it is tasty! I wish they would put more effort into their other menu items! read more