Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Pho Le Lai

    3.9 (129 reviews)

    Pho Le Lai Photos

    PHO LE LAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Pho Le Lai

    Recommended Reviews - Pho Le Lai

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    pho with rare steak and brisket
    Joanne H.

    Came here because Pho 75 was unfortunately not offering dine in EVEN THOUGH one of their reviews said they were open for dine in - whatever though, because now i found this amazing super sweet spot!! the food: you know the pho boutta be good when the broth isn't super clear - deep flavors and the noodles aren't super soggy like most places! They also give a decent amount of meet. the pork summer rolls were also divine!!! really marinated in flavor and love to ask for some extra peanut sauce for dipping summer rolls + pho meat. service: this lady serving us was the KINDEST ever! so considerate and sweet, and always made sure we had everything we needed. i'm a little needy with my pho, so asking for extra cilantro or onions can get me some looks sometimes, but she was sooo kind. AND she can speak both mandarin and vietnamese? kinda crazy!! will def be back

    the front of the restaurant
    Gerald S.

    Pho Le Lai is a Vietnamese restaurant located on St. Vincent Street in the Mayfair neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. It is found in the same building as 1st Asian Supermarket, making it convenient to eat and shop for our Southeast Asian grocery needs. Both are closer to our Bucks County home, saving time compared to either Chinatown (traffic & parking) or Washington Avenue (traffic). I was the sole customer when I walked in around 3 P.M. The cordial manager got up from reading the newspaper and seated me at the table next to her and handed me their multi page menu. Another friendly woman came out of the kitchen with a pitcher of cold water, to answer questions and take my order. That was simple - Pho Tai and Roast Pork Banh Mi (This is a pho house, after all.) Ten minutes later she was back with the "Small" bowl of steaming beef noodle soup requested, and a side plate of exceptionally fresh standard accoutrement (sprouts, sliced jalapeno, Thai basil sprigs and lime wedge). I took a pair of new wood chopsticks and flat bottomed spoon from the table holder and doctored the pho to my taste, paying attention to pull apart the nest of noodles lying beneath the surface of the dark broth (Northern Vietnamese style). The flavor profile displayed some depth and had been simmering in a large pot for a long time. It wasn't quite as rich as Pho 75 or Pho Ha, but it was very good and didn't require help from the Sriracha bottle rocket on the table. It was plenty spicy with the addition of the jalapeno. I was content to slurp away and patiently lift noodles out of the caldron and fold them onto the spoon before shoveling them into my mouth. The Banh Mi arrived minutes later. It was a full sized sandwich on decent French baguette, cut in half. Like the pho, it was larger than anticipated, especially for $6! It was loaded with dark roast pork, daikon radish, carrot, aioli and cilantro. I added a long squirt of Hoisin to bring up the savoriness of that combo, and took a bite. From crusty roll through crisp daikon and ultimately tender pork, it was delicious and captivating. It was a complete oral and tactile experience. One of the best sammys I've enjoyed since Ocean Grove, California, the capital of Vietnamese America. Along with China Gourmet, the excellent dim sum emporium also in that building, the presence of Pho Le Lai make St. Vincent Street a strong destination for your Asian taste buds and culinary needs.

    Summer rolls
    Vincent M.

    I'll admit that I went slightly off sensible ordering and didn't get something particularly Vietnamese. I had a bowl of wonton noodle soup with roast duck and some summer rolls. Wontons and noodles were good. The duck was ok, not particularly seasoned and I got a lot of bone, not much meat with my pieces. The broth, and hopefully it isn't the same as the pho broth, was pretty lacking in flavor. Adding the hoisin and a little sriracha helped. Wontons were good with a mix of pork and shrimp. Summer rolls were big, though mostly noodles and lettuce... skimpy on the shrimp and pork (I could barely see the pork.) Dipping sauce was nice.

    Bahn mi sandwhich
    Max H.

    Didn't get to try the Pho, I honestly just wanted a quick hoagie for lunch and it was Mary salad, I'm not usually a big fan of traditional bahn mi with the Cold cuts, but this one was actually tasty. The summer rolls were pretty standard as well, and the sauce is very flavorful. The only slight complaint was the smell in the restaurant, it wouldn't necessarily be the best place to take a date

    Curry fried rice pork noodles beef pho and pork chop rice
    Cora Y.

    Ohhhh my god. Ever wish for pork slices the size of a small child's head? Pho Le Lai is for you! This unassuming, quaint spot is the BOMB. Hailing from Queens, NY home to many authentic Thai/Viet restaurants, the quality and style of the dishes here are amazing. The coffee is freaking strong! The inside decor is simple and clean but when the plates come out you'll be wishing for more for the rest of your sad days back in NYC. Waitress Mandy is so sweet and bubbly I could put her in my pocket. I WISH I COULD SAY MORE, but I'm trying to inhaling the rest of my lunch! Come by you won't regret it! Happy Chinese New Years!!

    Broken rice with grilled chicken
    Christian P.

    I love coming here for pho and the rice meals. Really friendly and attentive staff. The food is always good and on point here as well.

    Table.
    Ly T.

    I came here with another person on Monday, July 4 3:55 PM and was seated right away. The layout of the restaurant looks fine, there were boxes everywhere. It's connected to a supermarket. We ordered tea and it tasted normal. Our waitress was kind. We ordered grilled beef short ribs with rice and it came with the usual fixings with veggies. I asked for a sunny side up egg on top of the rice and it was practically cooked when I broke it apart. The cucumbers were going bad, there were spots on the lettuce, and they served us very little fish sauce. The rice was old as well. Prices were fairly priced. There's a parking lot in the front. Personally, there was nothing special about this restaurant nor do I insist on coming back.

    Outside- in a strip with bubble tea and Asian market
    Isabella L.

    My husband and I are regulars here because the food is amazing and the customer service is above and beyond fantastic! Seriously, we come so often that they already know what we usually order, and it feels like walking into a family members home. I absolutely love that about this place, they are so personable and the atmosphere is friendly and home-like. We had only had pho once before coming here, and every other place we have tried since had paled in comparison. The drinks and fried dough are pretty amazing as well. We've lived everything else we've gotten here when we've explored the menu, but the pho is my favorite. This place is very mindful of allergies (just let them know upfront) and extremely knowledgeable about their menu. They often have great suggestions for you as well. They are great for families, big groups, child/baby friendly, and great if you want to try something new or different for the first time. They are located in a strip that includes a bubble tea and smoothie bar as well as an Asian market. I've also heard rumors of a bus station being put in here as well. We bring friends and family here every chance we get, I highly recommend it!

    Definitely some good vegetarian options AND they have vegetarian pho!  Not every Vietnamese restaurant offers vegetarian pho.
    Phyllis F.

    This place is a find. The food is absolutely awesome. The service is fast and friendly. I had the vegetarian pho and also the vegetarian spring rolls. Everything was very tasty. The service was great and the prices were not bad at all. Can't wait to go back.

    Bun bo hue
    Wendy C.

    From my perspective, I'm not sure why this restaurant has such great reviews. We came here on a Saturday afternoon for lunch for dine in and it was empty the whole time that we were there. It should have been a hint since there wasn't even takeout customers. The waiter was nice, not very attentive though. I ordered the meatball pho and my husband had bun bo hue. We also shared a summer roll order. Let me start with the Bun bo hue, it was NOT your typical one. The flavor was bland and all you can taste is just lemongrass with no spice at all. This was very disappointing. The meatball pho was okay and nothing that we will come back here for. Also, note that the prices on the menu are NOT what they charged us for. They charged us at least $1 more for each item from what was on the menu. LOOK AT YOUR RECEIPT AND MENU PRICES. The good thing is that there is plenty of parking and the portions are generous. But like I said, it's not enough for us to return to try different things.

    Tuff crowd
    Ryan B.

    If you do not have the means to travel half way around the world for authentic Vietnamese food But love You some Phô stay in northeast Philly and come to Phô le lai. From broken rice to broken teeth this place is as real as it gets. It has the old country feel of 1960 Vietnam and hospitality of a POW camp. Easy to get in and impossible to escape from this place is a real treat!

    Vegetable Soup (top choice in the soup section) with added tofu
    Melissa T.

    The post by Corey H. goes with mine, I just have the picture and a little bit more to say. Additions: The staff was absolutely amazing, and accommodating when I said I was vegetarian! I was asking about the broth for their vegetable soup, and when I brought up the fact it was veg where most places would just say okay and more on, she asked me if I would like tofu added. It was really thoughtful and the best tofu I have found in the NE!!! I strongly recommend this place to anyone looking for some good comfort food in an amazing atmosphere.

    Roasted Duck Noodle Soup

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gerald S.
    1923
    3913
    17588

    6 years ago

    Helpful 44
    Thanks 0
    Love this 40
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ly T.
    0
    46
    433

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    This place has the best food and the old lady is a sweetheart! And reasonably priced!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of by m.
    0
    11
    2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Jen W.
    11
    20
    24

    4 years ago

    Tasty local pho spot in Northeast Philly. I usually go to Pho 75 and Pho Le Lai is definitely in the top 5 I have had.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ryan B.
    12
    38
    62

    12 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Great Pho. Never a bad meal. Lovely owners always a pleasure to visit. Asian cusine neber disappoints.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lena C.
    16
    36
    37

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J H.
    0
    12
    3

    9 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Wei L.

    Wei L.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Winnie C.
    180
    8
    11

    9 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Wei L.

    Wei L.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Great pho. They have a 15.00 credit card limit. Waiter was very judge mental when you asked questions about the menu.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lulu B.
    0
    39
    31

    13 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jess Z.
    101
    15
    26

    10 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nina G.
    5
    26
    20

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Pho Le Lai

    You might also consider

    Dan Dan

    Dan Dan

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    8.7 mi
    $$

    We've been coming here for a number of years and enjoy it consistently. The menu is extensive from…read morenoodle dishes, to Sechuan, and Taiwanese selections. The homemade DanDan noodles were our favorite, which are served with ground pork in a spicy peanut sauce. We also got the three cup chicken which was so good, with a sweet, licorice-like glaze. Some other favorites were the black pepper chicken and the long hot chicken, if you enjoy spice. We had the ginger and scallion dish and was not our favorite, as the chicken had a unique consistency and was quite limp. Overall, good service and a relaxing ambiance in a bustling city.

    The spouse had a great meal here in the past, so it was one less place I had to research for…read moredinner. ATMOSPHERE: Intimate spot with a small loft, soft music and big windows for people watching. Takeout and deliveries seemed to be the majority of the business. RESERVATIONS: Not needed on this particular Monday night. PARKING: Street or garage. MENU: Sichuan & Taiwanese dishes. No dim sum. BEVERAGE: Lychee Martini Perfectly chilled and balanced, complete with a whole lychee garnish. FOOD: Dan Dan Noodles We got it plain but proteins were available. Thicker noodles coated in a thick peanut-flavored sauce with a little kick of heat. Very good but I'd definitely add either chicken or tofu to break up the carbs. Dry Pot Dish Served in a steel wok, we opted for chicken which was super tender. Very flavorful dish but it wasn't presented sizzling as the menu stated. Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup If you're a ramen fan and want something different, I think you'll love this as much as I did. A generous amount of thick noodles (available hand-ripped flat noodles are a $1 option), chunky slices of tender and fatty beef swimming in a savory and slightly sour dark-hued broth. Forgot to nix the cilantro but it wasn't overly loaded. Total yum. SERVICE: Greeting was immediate and friendly. Male server was knowledgeable but there was no follow up. OVERALL: A very enjoyable alternative to traditional Asian cuisine.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Dan Dan Noodles
    Dan Dan Noodles
    Dan Dan

    See all

    Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House

    Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House

    4.2
    (2.5k reviews)
    8.0 mi
    $$

    Lazy Sunday after an unsuccessful Memorial Day beach weekend. It was cold and rainy all weekend but…read morewe decided to hit up some beef noodle soup place to warm up. On this cold almost summer day, Nan Zhou was hustling and bustling. Separate parties at the same round table and clients coming in and out of the restaurant facade. Warm lighting and active banter. I received my bowl of beef noodle soup was pretty satisfied. Beef was tender with flavorful bites of fattiness. Somehow, the meat tastes beefier than beef. The cilantro had potent herbaceous flavor with some spinach(?) and mustard greens. Noodles were pleasantly chewy w variation in texture. Lowkey, everything else was alright. I like to be nice so I'll say no more. Cucumbers were fine

    We came here around 1pm on a Sunday and ordered the mapo tofu with noodles, the house special…read morenoodle soup, and a shrimp stir fry. This place was packed, which is always a good sign, and even with that the staff stayed super prompt and professional. The house special was my favorite. I got it with the knife-cut noodles and it was perfect with the broth. The noodles had that slightly uneven, chewy texture that really holds onto the soup. I never thought I'd be the type to talk about "mouthfeel" but here we are. The broth itself was rich and savory with a deep beef flavor, a little bit of oil on top that adds body without feeling too heavy. It's that classic, comforting Chinese beef noodle soup done really well. I added a braised egg, which had great flavor soaked into it, though it was served cold, which threw me off a bit. The mapo tofu with noodles was also really solid. It had that signature spicy, numbing kick from the Sichuan peppercorns, balanced with a savory, slightly salty sauce. The tofu was soft and silky, and mixing it with the noodles made it extra satisfying. It's got some heat but not overwhelming, just enough to keep you going back for another bite. The shrimp stir fry was lighter but still flavorful. The shrimp were cooked well, tender with a slight snap, and the sauce leaned more on the savory side with a mild sweetness. It felt like a nice balance alongside the heavier noodle dishes. Couple practical things: it's cash only, but there's an ATM right by the seating area which makes it easy. And the portions are generous for the price, so it feels like a really good deal. Overall, super satisfying spot. Busy, a little chaotic, but the food absolutely delivers. Definitely a go-to if you're craving hand-pulled noodles.

    Photos
    Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House
    Braised sliced beef noodle soup
    Braised sliced beef noodle soup
    Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House

    See all

    EMei

    EMei

    4.3
    (898 reviews)
    8.1 mi
    $$

    Celebrating my daughter's partner graduation from Wharton. Had reservations at 8pm for 12 people…read more Arrived 15 minutes early. Place was packed with UBER Eats drivers, about 15+! Hopefully it's good food!? The hostess warned us of 15 minute delay for seatings. No worries. Sat at bar enjoying a beer which was nice. Got to be sat in a room, circular table which was perfect! Then the staff got to work. Took drink orders and food orders. The food was ordered by my daughter so I really don't know what was name of each dish. The Hot and Sour was super. Had a chicken dish like orange chicken that was really good. Something tasted like moshu beef was very tasty. Then they served a spicy chicken that was fantastic! I wish I knew the name!! All in all a good experience.

    Visited EMei on the recommendation of my wife's cousin. Upon arrival, they made a table for seven…read moreand we were seated and given water. We had been walking for a while, so we were thirsty. They had an extensive menu, most of which, I've never tasted. So we requested some egg rolls as an appetizer. I also requested won ton soup. My daughter and I decided to share some Singapore noodles and my son requested orange chicken. My cousin requested beef and tofu and two different kinds of dumplings. The food is served family style and it turned out that we requested too much. However, all the dishes were yummy. Favorites were the spicy dumplings, won ton soup, orange chicken, and beef and tofu. There are so many Asian restaurants in this area that you could never try all of them. Anyway, I'm glad we enjoyed EMei. Recommend.

    Photos
    Nice sized dining area
    Nice sized dining area
    Spicy fish fillet
    Spicy fish fillet
    Coconut Milk 245ml

    See all

    Coconut Milk 245ml
    Han Dynasty

    Han Dynasty

    4.1
    (1.6k reviews)
    8.0 mi
    $$

    Visiting Philly & I was looking for a decent Chinese restaurant. I was willing to give this a try…read moresince it was walking distance from my hotel. When I first walked in, I was about to walk out as the atmosphere was very hipster-est & not of traditional Chinese restaurant. We sat down. Gave us a menu and tea was served immediately. Good sign. Ordered a twice cook pork and garlic eggplant. It was very good. What impressed me the most was that the food was out within 10 minutes. Now that's authentic! Service is good. Poor server (Angela) was by herself and always kept a happy face. What a professional! Highly recommend if you are looking for good Szechuan food with good service.

    I used to be a big fan of the Han Dynasty in University City when I lived in that area, and when I…read morewas in the Penn's Landing area recently I decided to eat at the Old City Han Dynasty for old time's sake. However, I found that the meal didn't live up to what I remembered at the UCity Han Dynasty or the Sichuan food I've had at other spots. My partner and I ordered the dan dan noodles and double cooked pork belly to share, our longtime regular order. The portions were generous and prices were affordable, but both dishes fell short in some ways. The dan dan noodle sauce was mostly sesame-based with little of the chili heat I remembered, and there was only a bit of the ground pork topping. It left me wondering whether they hold off on the spice at this location due to the clientele, whether they changed the recipe, or whether it was just an off day. The pork in the double cooked pork was overcooked and tough, and the dish didn't have enough of the veggie components (leeks and peppers) to balance it out. Another minor nitpick - there was a World Cup game going on while we ate and the multiple downstairs TVs had the game on. The second floor where we were seated also had a nice big TV, yet it seemed to be left on a screensaver slideshow of random landscape photos. Would have been nice to watch the game! I was overall left feeling pretty meh about the meal. I'd give the UCity location another shot, but don't think I'd come back to the Old City one.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Dry Pot Style tilapia
    Dry Pot Style tilapia
    Han Dynasty

    See all

    Pho Le Lai - vietnamese - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...