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    Phodega

    4.3 (410 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Phodega Takeout or Delivery

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    PHODEGA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - Phodega

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    Bryn S.

    Good- but not my favorite. Was not as flavorful as banh mis usually are. Also i did get the pork but it was mostly fat.

    Nolan F.

    Review of: 1. The Viet Dip - thin sliced ribeye, cilantro, onions, jalapenos, aioli, pho jus dip 2. Salt & Pepper Crack Wings 3. Vietnamese Egg Rolls - shrimp, pork 4. Pho Bo Viet Dip sandwich and pho bo were solid. Crispy soft bread and decent quality beef. I like the wider rice noodles and flavor of both pho broth and pho jus dip. Wings were very crispy and juicy but lack salt & pepper flavor. Egg rolls were also bland. Ube Horchata could be less sweet. No issues with service. Moderately pricey. Sandwiches do not include a side.

    Menu 3/2026
    Connie K.

    Came here on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and there were plenty of tables available. It is self seating and you order from the QR code online. I had the not bun bo hue (spicy beef broth, lemongrass, chili oil, thin sliced ribeye, pork roll, and garnished with red and green cabbage) and the ube horchata which came out in a prepackaged bottle to my surprise. Ordered the pork and shrimp eggrolls (each order has 4 eggrolls) for my child and they were tiny. The pork eggrolls were pretty bland and tasted like the ones I can purchase from the frozen section of an Asian grocery store. The shrimp ones had more flavor but they were incredibly small. The not bun bo hue broth was okay (didn't really taste spicy to me) but the garnishes were really lacking. The bowl seemed like there was heaping amount of noodles but not so much for everything else. The ube horchata was too sweet for my taste. Overall, food was on the pricey side for what you get.

    Jazmine P.

    I love pho, and their pho ga was pretty good. I really liked the noodles, the toppings, and the broth. The only thing I didn't care for was the skin left on the chicken. The crack wings and Korean-style dumplings were also good. I loved the bodega-style decor and the fact that you can buy snacks as well.

    Not BBH [Spicy Beef]
    Bethany W.

    I love the vibe of this place. We passed by and were immediately interested! Service was fantastic and quick. Inside had cool decor and good lightting. The food was all fantastic! Portions were big and prices were fair. The "not BBH" was really flavorful and yummy (definitely spicy haha). We shared some dumplings and eggrolls which were fried to perfection. I didn't try my friend's chicken rice, but it looked well cooked and was a huge plate of food. Overall, a really cool/modern Vietnamese joint in the area!

    The Viet Dip
    Erica B.

    Phodega was delicious! Super moderately priced and good portions and the place was small but cute - I enjoyed the bodega vibe. The Viet dip was better than expected with its tender meat, aioli sauce, and salty dipping juice. The Pho Bo was also really good and very large. There was a really good amount of meat and the meatballs and thin sliced brisket were my favorite parts. Splitting the two dishes with one other person was more than enough food!

    Not BBH [Spicy Beef]
    Crystal C.

    Came to Phodega while looking for a solid pho spot in Chicago after seeing it all over TikTok. First off, parking is tricky with only street parking available, so be prepared to circle a bit. The space itself is pretty small, and when we went there was a DJ event happening. I get that they are trying to create a cool, vibey atmosphere, but it ended up feeling chaotic. With the tables already full, adding a DJ made it super cramped and loud, and it was hard to really enjoy the food. Food wise, we ordered the beef pho, not bún bò Huế, and the salt and pepper wings. The wings were a bit confusing. Flavor wise they were good, but they did not taste like salt and pepper wings and came off more like a spicy wing. They were also wet, whereas I usually expect salt and pepper wings to be a dry rub. The beef pho was disappointing. The broth was not hot enough to properly cook the rare beef, and overall it lacked depth and richness. The bún bò Huế was also not what I expected. It was heavy on veggies, light on noodles, and the beef seemed more like a meatball, which I was not a fan of. Unfortunately, both broths did not have that deep, complex flavor I look for in pho. Overall, I appreciate what they are trying to do concept wise, but between the hectic atmosphere and the underwhelming food, it did not live up to the hype for me.

    Exterior of establishment
    Joe B.

    Been to quite a few pho places, and since I was in the area for a meeting with a client, I decided to check this spot out based on the reviews. The ambiance was comfortable but a little tight with the set up. Started with an order of dumplings--they were tasty and well-stuffed. I wanted to order eggrolls as well, but the ones I originally wanted weren't available. The only option they had at the time was shrimp. We placed the order and waited, but unfortunately the shrimp eggrolls didn't come out hot as expected. I also ordered an extra side of noodles, but it seems like they charge extra for just about everything. I asked for my soup to be spicy, and it came out not spicy at all. I had to request chili on the side, and even then the portion they brought was very minimal. Service, unfortunately, was horrible. We had to ask for a table to be cleaned because it was dirty when we arrived. If you want water, be ready to serve yourself because no one comes around to check on you. The person attending our table never stopped by even once to see how things were. We were already three-quarters of the way through our soup when we had to remind them about the eggroll appetizer. Overall, not a great experience. I might give them another chance someday, but it'll be a while--I left far from satisfied.

    Not BBH [Spicy Beef]
    Billy T.

    I thought it would be quieter on a Sunday evening- I thought wrong! Still had to wait for a table but it moved quickly. Ended up with some really solid pho. Not the most traditional, but that's what I came for! Great service and good food.

    Andrew P.

    Did not try the pho here, but came with two friends to try some other things on their menu and we were generally blown away! Their "spicy" sauce was actually so good and complimented the food very well. We ordered three different plates to share that were all so perfect including the Marinated Pork Belly Rice, the Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings, and their chicken skins. Allll so yummy! I know some people have mixed feelings on their pho, but I can't speak for that until I come back to try!

    pho without meat
    Minji W.

    I was recovering from food poisoning and this was the first meal I was able to keep down!! yay!! It's a trendy pho spot in a trendy area, so was it like the most authentic pho I've had in my life? perhaps not but still super solid. service was really great and there was lots of seating!! food: the noodle to broth ratio was a little crazy it was like maybe 5:2? idk that was a random ratio but i wouldve liked a littttle bit more broth oh yk what i realize they might have done this for me bc i ordered no meat or extra veggies so actually shoutout super random side note: I asked one of the waitresses to take a pic for my friends and i on my film camera and I was explaining how to use it and she was like shes got it on lock bc shes older than me and knows how to use the camera. i was like word. thennn she used 3 of my precious film on the same pic actually helppp. i swear i wouldnt still be thinking about this had she not been so confident and if that film wasnt literally only possible to buy in japan like i could shed a tear. i know she didnt mean anything bad by it but yeah :( there goes 3 of my film pics (one of which im not even in) help BUT LIKE OBVS this does not affect their service or food at all. it just made me sad and now ill have to associate it with the phodega im sorry

    Maikayeng V.

    I've been rocking with Phodega since they opened up on Ashland. The vibe is different at this new location but it's definitely a good change! There's ample patio space outside when it's warm out and much more seating inside than there was before. I'm very happy for them cos clearly this location is a way better fit. Idk why it took me so long to review this place I've definitely been meaning to. I used to buy my sriracha here during the sriracha shortage I'm the type of person who definitely utilizes the bodega part of phodega. They have a lot of different asian snacks mainly as the bodega options. I feel like the old location was a bit more of a bodega feel with things like toilet paper etc and this location is more of a restaurant feel. Everyone who works here is extremely chill and you can tell they care about the food quality. It's definitely my favorite pho place in Chicago, and when I'm not in the mood for pho their bahn mi and rice+chicken plates all hit. I also totally grew up with the plates they serve the food on, like literally same design so it's very nostalgic. I just wish I could get stamps on my rewards card from them when I order online as well. Even without that I've probably finished and redeemed about 3-4 rewards cards from them by now so that tells you how much I like this place huh?

    Combo pho
    Connie W.

    Chicago has a large variety of ethnic people. It shows in the neighborhood restaurants. I like the word play of phodega from bodega which has urban neighborhood food supply connotations. My friend and I shared a combo rice dish as well as a beef noodle soup dish. Both were great. But I preferred the rice dish just a tad more. Selfserve water and condiments. Love the hole in the wall locals hang out feel.

    The Viet Dip

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    4 days ago

    this place ruined pho for me but in the best way. i'm gonna miss this place when i leave chicago forever :( pho bo for the win

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - Phodega

    Is it " Dine in "?

    Yes it has 3 or 4 tables inside. It's a lunch / light dinner place, not for fine dining :)

    Is it byob?

    Hell yeah

    View All 4 Questions

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    JJ Thai Street Food - Crab fried rice - recommend adding a fried egg

    JJ Thai Street Food

    4.4(563 reviews)
    0.6 miUkrainian Village, West Town
    $$

    Small but cozy place. We were able to call ahead and make a reservation…read more Moo ping (pork skewers with sticky rice) - 10/10. My toddler devoured this. Could have easily done a second order. Papaya salad - 9/10. Really good. I loved the dried shrimp. Crispy chicken salad - 10/10. This was sooo good. Tiger cry - 5/10. Normally a favorite for me at Thai restaurants. This one was overcooked, which was unfortunate. Crab fried rice - 7/10. Solid. Chunks of crab. Mango with sticky rice - 8/10. Needed more mango but it was delicious.

    So so good! My husband & I were craving Thai food and decided to come here for lunch. We got here…read morejust about a half hour opening and it was already pretty busy with people dining in and people waiting for takeout... always a good sign! Seating was a little tight like at Phodega, but not terrible. To view menu, you scan a QR code at the table. My husband & I ordered the following: - Grilled Squid This was really good! I thought it was going to come out like little calamari rings, but it was actually a decently sized whole squid, sliced with the tentacles on the side. It was cooked perfectly as it was not chewy or rubbery. The flavor was great, especially with the paired Thai-spicy seafood sauce. - Crab Meat Fried Rice Loved that this was with real crab! & not the imitation crab. There were bits of crab meat throughout the rice and then topped with a big lump of crab meat. It came served with a lime & yummy fish sauce with fresh Thai chili's. - Bamee Noodles with BBQ Pork without broth This bowl of egg noodles had a slightly sweet flavor to it, served with a fox amount of BBQ Pork which was also nice & tender! Slurped it all up! - Jina's Fried Chicken This was good, but not anything like out of this world. It was fried chicken leg quarter, served with black sticky rice. - Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango LOVED this! It was a great way to end our meal! I loved that it came with extra sweet sauce! - Taro Tapioca in Coconut Milk Cream This was great too! It was actually a warm dessert. The menu described it as "Tapioca pearls" so I was expecting the tiny little clear boba balls, but it was cubes of like glutinous rice. Which was not bad! I liked it a lot; it reminded me of Ginataang Bilo Bilo (#iykyk if you're Filipino)! Overall, a delicious experience! We would eat here again!

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    JJ Thai Street Food - King mushroom

    King mushroom

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    Penang Malaysian Cuisine - Thai Panang Curry

    Penang Malaysian Cuisine

    3.8(451 reviews)
    19.9 mi
    $$

    I have been to Penang many times, and it has always been for a special occasion. Today, I missed…read morethe taste of Malaysia so I came to dinner by myself. I ordered enough for two, which means I would have something for the next two meals. The restaurant has been around for a while, and it is a stand alone building. The menu, like what you will find in Malaysia - a mixed of Chinese, Malay, and Indian. The service is always prompt. Here's what I ordered: 1) Roti Canai served with Malaysian chicken curry - the curry is unlike Indian curry. This is a typical Malaysian style curry. You take a piece of the crispy yet a little chewy pan fried dough and dipped in this curry broth. That combination will kick off your appetite. 2) Seafood and Tofu clay pot - a mix of fish fillet, squid, shrimp, vegetables and homemade tofu served in a clay pot. The tofu is delicious - crispy outside with soft and silky center - chef's kiss! 3) String bean mixed with balacan - balacan is a Malaysian sambal sauce made with shrimp paste and chili. It has this savory, sweet and lightly spicy flavor mixed with crispy string beans. It was a delightful dinner! There are many other dishes that I'll come back for, especially other dishes with their homemade tofu.

    Best Malaysian food is all of Chicago!!! The chicken satay is the best!…read more Delicious!!!!

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    Penang Malaysian Cuisine - A very clean and nice decorated place.

    A very clean and nice decorated place.

    Penang Malaysian Cuisine - Roti Canai Satay Chicken

    Roti Canai Satay Chicken

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    Hing Kee Restaurant - Seafood Noodle Bowl

    Hing Kee Restaurant

    3.6(930 reviews)
    4.0 miChinatown
    $$

    Really loved this place. It's a great spot for a bigger group or if you want to order a bunch of…read moredishes and share family style. The tables seem to seat around eight people, which worked well for our group. The vibe was calm, and the staff was very friendly and welcoming. The menu is huge and honestly a little overwhelming at first, but nothing our group ordered was bad. Pretty much everything was good, except the General Tso's, which was just kind of mid/too sweet. The prices felt fair for the location, especially because the portion sizes are massive. They also provide to-go containers for soup-style items, which was nice. We did not see any alcohol or sake on the menu, which was a little disappointing. Maybe they had it and we just were not told, but it definitely was not obvious. Overall, I highly recommend this place.

    It was our first time here and probably last. Unfortunately the food fell short and was just okay…read more The hand pulled noodles did not look nor taste hand pulled. When you order hand pulled noodles you expect the slight chewiness and texture that they are known for. The salt and pepper pork had a battered coating much like that of sweet and sour chicken and not the thinner version you get elsewhere. The salt and pepper taste were lacking. The xiao long bao was probably the only thing we really enjoyed. Service was speedy and the food came out fast. Unfortunately there are too many other restaurants for us to visit to come back for just a meh experience.

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    Hing Kee Restaurant
    Hing Kee Restaurant - In love with this Siu Mai !

    In love with this Siu Mai !

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    Dai Yee's Asian Kitchen - Shrimp Broccoli, Beef Tofu (hot), Egg Fried Rice

    Dai Yee's Asian Kitchen

    4.4(223 reviews)
    3.8 miNorth Center

    Dai Yee's Asian Kitchen is the underground emperor of late-night Chinese food in Chicago, the spot…read moreyour Uber driver, your bartender, and every chef in the city whispers about when they're truly hungry. Tucked into a no-frills corner on the South Side, Dai Yee's looks modest from the outside, but step in after 10 p.m. and it's pure magic. The room is packed with everybody--sneakerheads, nurses coming off shift, club kids, cops, and couples on first dates who somehow heard the legend. The vibe is chaotic in the best way: woks roaring, orders flying, and that unmistakable perfume of sizzling garlic, ginger, and chili filling the air. The food is straight-up stupid good. The Hong Kong-style salt & pepper smelts are crackly, spicy, and gone in 30 seconds. The beef chow fun has that elusive wok hei (breath of the wok) that most places only dream of, wide rice noodles slick with smoky char and tender flank steak. The black pepper beef tenderloin is velvet-soft, glossy, and aggressively peppery in a way that makes you order extra rice just to survive the happiness. The Singapore noodles are bright curry perfection, and the Mongolian beef is saucy, crispy-edged, and borderline addictive. Portions are straight out of the 90s--massive trays that could feed a family of four for under $15. Cash-only, BYOB, and everything comes out blazing hot in under ten minutes even when the place is slammed. The ladies running the show are legends: fast, funny, and they'll roast you (lovingly) if you can't handle the spice level you asked for. If you leave Chicago without hitting Dai Yee's at least once (preferably at 1 a.m. with a six-pack), you didn't really experience the city. This is real-deal, no-filter, soul-satisfying Chinese food that reminds you why we fall in love with restaurants in the first place. Dai Yee's isn't just a restaurant; it's a Chicago institution in the making. I'd wait in line in a blizzard for those smelts. See you at midnight.

    11/26/25 - I drove by here w/my wife today to eat lunch based on the reviews only to find that this…read moreis a pop up restaurant where you go & pick up your food & go. Dam I was disappointed we went away empty. Based on the reviews I really wanted to try this place but alas it wasn't meant to be. How do you give a rating to a restaurant you didn't eat at? Sorry I can't give you a 5 star rating but it's hard to judge on not eating your food

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    Dai Yee's Asian Kitchen - Chicken Lo Mein, Yu Shin Beef (Hot), General Tsos Chicken (Hot)

    Chicken Lo Mein, Yu Shin Beef (Hot), General Tsos Chicken (Hot)

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