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    Obao

    4.0 (4.5k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:30 pm

    Order Obao Takeout or Delivery

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    OBAO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - Obao

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    Reviews With Photos

    Pho Bo
    Allen B.

    Went to Obao for a family dinner on May 20th 2026. Cool little spot, decent decor not anything too crazy. We ordered the wings and spring rolls to start. Spring rolls were very fresh, wings are very flavorful. Mains, my babies had the Pho Bo, which they enjoyed. Wifey went with the fried rice main and I got the green curry chicken. That curry is really good I can't front. We had really good service from the wait staff. We got a side of beef, like short rib on the bone. It came out cold but I told my wife that's maybe because the expectation is that you out it in the pho? Overall solid place that we will revisit.

    PAD SEE EEW
    Christian Z.

    Jennie was awesome. We informed the staff that we had a show to attend to and they were quick and expedited our orders. The ambiance was fun and vibey The food is a mix of Vietnamese and Thai. We had the calamari and spring rolls. The spring rolls were refreshing and perfect. We were a table of 8 people with a 6 year old. Pad see ew was decent. Vietnamese pork chop not too sweet in the marinade and cooked perfectly. The tofu and eggplant garlic was okay. Mid on the spice level. The Pho was good. But served luke warm. The flavor had a great amount of salt and acid.

    Garlic EGGPLANT TOFU WITH SPICY GARLIC SAUCE (VEGAN & SPICY).
    Chrissy R.

    Was craving eggplant tofu and this hit the spot. Did pick up - restaurant was clean and busy - always a good sign! Also got sesame chicken.

    Obao Bun Platter
    Steve L.

    After [fiiiinally] catching the matinee showing of Book of Mormon with my brother in town, we ended up at Obao with another friend who was theater-going. The place is pretty big/multi-floored, pretty upscale ambiance, very nice in appearance. We were seated pretty quickly and had a nice table upstairs. The service was prompt and helpful (although they initially wanted me to toss my cup from the Book of Mormon - which I was trying to keep as a memento as I stupidly left my playbook [and scarf] in the theater, but after I explained, they allowed me to hang onto it). We ultimately ended up ordering the Obao bun platter as a shared appetizer, which features grilled pork, shrimp, tofu, beef balls, crispy spring roll, vermicelli noodles,fresh vegetables, pickled carrot and radish, peanuts and nước châm sauce. Just an FYI, while "bun" is in the name, this dish has no buns [hun] - though you can make lettuce wraps. I really enjoyed this, had a wide array of food, all delicious. For my main, I ordered the Bo Luc Lac (seared diced New Zealand grass fed beef , onion, grape tomatoes and top with crispy shallots) - thought it was great, the beef was very tender and the flavors were on point. Really nice. For drinks, brother got an Allagash draft, and I was still in a good place from fun times at the bar at the show, so wisely settled for water...which a younger me would have never done lol. It was really nice being near my old stomping grounds from my Hell's Kitchen days, and wish I had dined here before leaving - really good, decently priced food (especially for the area); will definitely be on my short list next time I'm around.

    Kimberly B.

    This place was super cute and vibes were cool in the daytime and I'm sure it gets crazy at night. They have an upstairs private party area type and it's very cute. The Thai food was ok it wasn't as authentic as I would prefer and I know my authenticity when it comes to Thai food since I eat it all the time back in Cali. The service gets an extra star cause they were so accommodating and so kind. I would come here just for the vibes for sure. Cocktails were good.

    Stacy L.

    Wonderful dinner experience. The ambiance was perfect. Soft lighting, but not dark, the restaurant was lively, but not overwhelming. Our waitress was wonderful. She gave us menu recommendations and perfectly responded to all our questions. The drunken noodles were phenomenal! The serving size, presentation, taste, all 10/10. As a tourist, it was easy to see that this is a place where locals come to enjoy an evening out with good food and drinks.

    VIETNAMESE CRISPY SPRING ROLLS (GLUTEN FREE).
    Dana P.

    My family visited Obao on a recent visit to NYC. This is definitely not a tourist spot. The restaurant is beautiful and the food is excellent with great depth of flavors. We ordered the spring rolls, pad se yu and garlic noodles. All of the items were delicious and worth ordering. I highly recommend checking them out.

    Lovell C.

    I came to New York during the winter and the weather was absolutely freezing, so naturally we were craving something warm and comforting. My boyfriend loves pho, so OBAO felt like the perfect choice, and it completely delivered. We ordered the pad see ew with chicken, and the noodles were incredibly tender and tasted fresh, not heavy or oily at all. We also got the braised short rib pho, which came in a very generous portion and was rich, flavorful, and perfect for warming up on a cold day. To round things out, we ordered the bo luc lac, which came with rice and was cooked beautifully. The service was friendly and attentive, and the ambiance was dimly lit and cozy, giving the whole place a really nice vibe. It was the kind of spot where you can relax, enjoy your food, and escape the cold for a bit. Great food, great portions, great atmosphere. I would definitely come back.

    Isabel L.

    After not securing a table at a nearby famous restaurant, my family and I stumbled upon Obao which was relatively close by! For a Sunday night, there was a 10 minute wait and they were able to accommodate our large party. Thai tea was delicious, calamari was perfectly cooked, everyone loved their entrees. The portions were rather big as well.

    Jai Y.

    We all got Thai iced tea except the one friend who got Vietnamese iced tea. I got the pho bo short ribs which was delicious but a bit overpriced. The meat was so tender and falling off the bone though. My friend got the Vietnamese crispy pork belly. My wife got the spicy drunken noodles and enjoyed it. Another friend got the roasted duck noodles. There were no complaints from any of my friends.

    KA PRAO KAI KHAI DAO
    Francisca B.

    What a great place to dine and hang out with friends. The service was good, food was delicious, everything was perfect! I didn't take photos of all the food because we were so excited when the food arrived lol so I only remembered to take this one. We tried the crispy spring roll, shrimp tom yum, ka prao kai khai dao, pla todd and mango salad. So if you are in Hells Kitchen area, stop by at OBAO for delicious Asian food!

    Thai Iced Coffee
    Sheila K.

    During our NY trip, we were trying to figure out what to eat before going to see Back to the Future: The Musical... we came upon this spot. We are always down for Thai food wherever we go, even better that it was a Vietnamese fusion as well-- if we decided to go that route. It's very nicely decorated, loved the ambience... and they kept it really clean. The staff was super friendly, and very attentive. The food was good. Can't say I was wowed but it was good. We got the Phad Thai (with shrimp) and the Pork Belly to share, we weren't super hungry and wanted to leave space for after the show. I liked the Phad Thai-- there was a good amount of shrimp and they were cooked perfectly... the poached egg, however, not my favorite on this dish... that's just me. The Pork belly was good, I was just missing my rice (didn't order). He got beer, I also got the Thai Iced Coffee -- it was solid. All in all, we enjoyed our visit here. The overall experience was nice and we wouldn't mind going back to try other things on the menu. Again, they were good... they just didn't wow me with the food so I've got to stick them in the middle for now.

    Jose P.

    Came to OBAO for lunch and, once again, it did not disappoint. The restaurant is always nicely decorated, the service is cordial/professional, the food is well presented, and ALWAYS delicious. I started with a Vietnamese Iced Coffee and it's ALWAYS memorable! The mixture of the strong coffee with the creamy sweetener adds to the enjoyment of anything it will accompany. TRY IT! We ordered from the lunch special menu and had the following: Steamed Dumplings (Chicken, Shrimp, Shitake Mushrooms, sesame oil, served with chili soy sauce). This is the perfect starter. The Dumplings were so tender, savory, and made a delightful dent to our appetite. Next was the Papaya Salad (Shredded young papaya, lime, chilies, garlic, long beans, cherry tomatoes, crushed peanuts, and palm sugar). This dish was so good. It was a large serving for a lunch special, the papaya was pleasantly crunchy, this is always my favorite entree selection, and is highly recommended. If you're ever in the mood for Thai cuisine, OBAO will satisfy your craving and make you return for more.

    BÒ LÚC LAC (3/5)

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    Obao Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Obao

    Do you have a wine list?

    I don't

    Do you guys have halal options?

    No. This is Asian cushion with no halal options

    Do you do deliver? What areas of New York do you deliver to?

    You need to contact the restaurant for that info

    Do they have the fresh wide noodles for pho?

    Any gluten-fee options?

    Pho that is Michelin Star Gluten Free

    Are reservations necessary on Saturday around 2 or 3?

    Not necessary but recommended!

    Does the food have MSG in it?

    No effects and we wouldn't go otherwise

    Are reservations required?

    We made reservations and went early.There were plenty of tables but it filled up while we were there. Given that this is in the Theater District I would make reservations for sure.

    Salt pepper shrimp?

    Just heavenly.

    Has anyone made a reservation for 8+ people? Is there a minimum amount each person is required to order?

    My team had lunch there, it was a party of 7 and we had extra seating at our table. So 8 ppl is definitely fine. I don't think there's a minimum purchase to be seated, we each spent $18 there, after tax and tips.

    Do they make a vegetarian pho (or other hot soup) option?

    No, I went and they had very very limited vegan options (stuck to edamame and alcohol). The soups all use animal based broth so not vegetarian either.

    Do you have to sit at the bar to get happy hour prices or do the deals still apply if you sit at a table?

    Happy hour deals also apply if you sit at the tables.

    View All 13 Questions

    5ive Spice - Interior Dining Booth -  5ive Spice Gramercy

    5ive Spice

    4.4(188 reviews)
    1.5 miKips Bay
    $$
    Private events
    Catering service

    Excellent food, great drinks, nice vibe, great service. Reasonably priced as well. Veggie meat…read moresubstitute is delish, lots of great vegetarian options.

    - Comfy, cozy space with a handful of bar-height tables up front, counter seating at the bar, and…read morebooth nooks along the side of the restaurant; warm and inviting vibes throughout - We made reservations for a party of 14 (originally 17), and they were able to seat us in the rear of the restaurant; 17 would've likely required splitting up; the regular lunch crowd was steady but quiet down completely around 2p on a Thursday afternoon - Service was decent overall, though the waitstaff seemed a bit overwhelmed by our larger group; there was a small mishap with one entrée due to a gluten allergy, but it was handled promptly and professionally - The food was excellent--everyone enjoyed their entrée selections: fried dumplings (both pork and vegetarian) arrived piping hot, crispy, and flavorful, as did the Spring Rolls (with both carnivore and herbivore options); the 5ive Special Pho was especially satisfying, with a generous portion of noodles, a rich and savory broth with a gentle kick, and plenty of tender meat; I also snagged a few taro crisps from a colleague--thin, crispy, and perfect with the sriracha aioli; Thai Iced Tea had a deep, authentic tea flavor and just the right level of sweetness - I loved the restroom hidden behind the bookcase in the back--such a fun, stealthy touch, with the only indication being a cute little man/woman plaque displayed on one of the shelves; there's also a clearly labeled restroom to the right, for those who are less adventurous :)

    Photos
    5ive Spice - Vietnamese Beef Pho

    Vietnamese Beef Pho

    5ive Spice - Vietnamese Fried Spring Roll

    Vietnamese Fried Spring Roll

    5ive Spice - Nguyen Dynasty (Cocktail) - Scotch, Pandan, Ginger, Star Anise, Orange Bitters

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    Nguyen Dynasty (Cocktail) - Scotch, Pandan, Ginger, Star Anise, Orange Bitters

    Annam Cafe

    Annam Cafe

    4.2(22 reviews)
    0.7 miMidtown West

    Popped into this new Vietnamese spot by Herald Square for a quick weekday lunch. The place is fresh…read moreand clean, with a modern self-serve setup where you order via iPad. I got the pho ($21.78), which is steep for pho, but I guess that's Midtown prices for you. The wait was a slog--over 20 minutes for a bowl of pho, which other Yelp reviews warned about. When it finally arrived, the soup lacked that authentic pho aroma, which was a letdown. On the plus side, the beef was fresh, and the reusable to-go bag was a nice touch. Decent, but the wait and price make it hard to love. Might try again if they speed things up.

    Okay, so I came back after a couple weeks from my first visit and had the most perplexing…read moreexperience. I ordered "Plain Pho", which is described as just broth and noodles, no garnish or meat. After waiting 30 minutes, for what is literally the simplest item on the menu, the bowl is brought out and it's a bowl of broth with a couple slices of chicken. No noodles. When I inquired, the server told me it's because I ordered the Plain Pho... yea and I said it comes with noodles and broth. They told me they could get me noodles, but acted like they were doing me a favor by fetching noodles for me, which was quite offputting because the noodles were quite literally half of the dish I actually ordered. How does one wait half-an-hour at a very casual fast Vietnamese food place, for premade soup and noodles, and still have the order wrong? In the end, I did get my noodles and broth, but the fact that I had to spend this much time and also justify my request for noodles (which are part of the dish) is quite insane. I put this at 2 stars for now, because I enjoyed my first time. Hopefully the service will improve.

    Photos
    Annam Cafe
    Annam Cafe - Artichoke Tea

    Artichoke Tea

    Annam Cafe - Saigon Special Beef Pho

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    Saigon Special Beef Pho

    Nom Nam

    Nom Nam

    4.6(186 reviews)
    1.3 miMurray Hill, Kips Bay, Midtown East
    $$

    Came here for dinner on a weekday. The restaurant is near my friend's place. The place was exactly…read morewhat we were looking for... Inexpensive, cozy and comfortable atmosphere! The place was a little busy, but they didn't take reservations. Amazing service and delicious food! The food was fresh and came out fast. Portions are generous, so you definitely won't leave hungry. My favorite dish was Vegan Pho without tofu, which was delicious, also gluten free, dairy free and soy free. Others had something else I had no interest in to remember the name. Their menu has many options to offer, including gluten free, soy free, and dairy free options. We would come back again and highly recommend you check out this place if you are in Murray Hill Manhattan.

    Stopped by Nom Nam as a family after a long day doing the Statue of Liberty tour, and it was a…read moremuch-needed sit-down meal. We ordered a mix of things and overall the food was good. The viet bao stood out--really flavorful and probably the best thing we had. The pho was okay, but coming from LA, it's hard not to compare, and Little Saigon still does it better. My daughter got the famous wings and those were solid. The kids especially liked the prawn chips that came with them--ended up finishing those pretty quickly. Good spot to recharge after a long day out, especially if you're with family and want something satisfying without overthinking it.

    Photos
    Nom Nam - Front of shop

    Front of shop

    Nom Nam - Banh Mi - Ham & Pate

    Banh Mi - Ham & Pate

    Nom Nam

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    Pho 39 - Pho

    Pho 39

    3.4(90 reviews)
    0.6 miMidtown West

    Came here on a chilly Saturday night for dinner with my friend as we were very cold from walking…read moreoutside and craved a hot noodle soup. Pho fit the bill. The menu a super simple one pager with options from pho to banh mi to vermicelli noodles. We both got the flank and brisket pho and were served the bean sprouts, basil and lime right away. The phos came maybe less than 2 minutes later. With the way the menu was organized and its offerings, it reminds me of Pho 35 and Pho Lexington so I suspect it's all part of the same chain but didn't get a chance to ask the staff. You pay at the front before you leave. Turn over is pretty quick because of the quick service. If this is related to the other locations, this place is a bit tighter than the others but we didn't have a wait at all and there were still some empty tables. However, I'm not sure I saw a bathroom (maybe in the back corner? We were sat at the table closest to the door).

    Decent Pho, but sort of weird. For starters, the add-ins with the pho are kind of beat looking -…read morelike bruised basil, bad-looking limes, and a tiny bit of bean sprouts. No chiles or culantro. Honestly, the basil was so wilted I wasn't sure if it was Thai basil or Italian basil. Broth was quite oily, and I couldn't order all the beef cuts I like in Pho, you have to choose between some pretty basic options. It made me wonder if this place was really Vietnamese or not. It's very tight in here, but the service is fast and friendly enough. The water was kind of faucet temperature with no ice. A bit strange there. All in all, if you have an itch for Pho near Bryant park, this place is fine, but it's not great or anything.

    Photos
    Pho 39
    Pho 39 - Grilled Pork Banh Mi

    Grilled Pork Banh Mi

    Pho 39

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    Pho Master 168

    Pho Master 168

    4.3(39 reviews)
    0.6 miTheater District, Midtown West
    $

    Older couple making the food, and it's a good banh mi. Cost about $10-$11 for the big PhoMaster…read more It didn't have cilantro or any real sauce like Mayo or anything as far as I could tell and I would prefer more of a fresh veg burst of flavor. There was a side of a hot chili sauce which wasn't crazy spicy which I liked. The bread was fantastic but it did take a pretty long time to make. Quite large and delicious, a few tweaks and I'd rate this up there with some of the best. The fact that they enlarged the sandwhich and it was still a good banh mi is actually impressive. Cash only on the opposite corner from Bryant park by the bank of China.

    Solid midtown lunch choice…read more Have walked by many times and it's usually busy. Saw an opening today and decided to pull the trigger. Got a pork chop noodle salad bowl with extra meat that was served very quickly. Pork was thin and just a little over the line past cooked and into dry territory, but still flavorful. There were more veggies (lettuce, pickled carrots, etc) than noodles, which is not a bad thing. Whole thing gets topped with peanuts and fried shallots. Comes with fish sauce and sriracha separately packed. Speed, solid quality and value. A good addition to the lunch rotation.

    Photos
    Pho Master 168
    Pho Master 168 - Our signature pho is made with a slow simmered beef bone broth that's cooked overnight. The richness of our flavors can't be beat!

    Our signature pho is made with a slow simmered beef bone broth that's cooked overnight. The richness of our flavors can't be beat!

    Pho Master 168 - Bunh mi vegetarian (sandwich)

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    Bunh mi vegetarian (sandwich)

    Obao - vietnamese - Updated June 2026

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