I love Pho and the flavor was less than mediocre , meat wasn't fresh sadly . I wish it was better

[[HIGHLIGHT]]I like the ambience and the snack corner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Everyone seemed to enjoy the food and the staff were chill. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Good hangout spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Only thing is my friend ordered and they somehow didnt get the order so he waited super long for his bahn mi because they didn't realize until the rest of us got our food. They apologized and got it out but i honestly think they shouldve offered him a drink or something. read more

Believe the hype. I sniff out banh mi across the land. This is how you do banh mi, SPECTACULARLY WELL. Spicy Chicken Banh Mi is a decadent experience. Fried, crispy deliciousness w fresh pickled veggies, cilantro, special sauce, jalepenos. Mild/med Spicy but not too spicy. Bread dense, chewy, not very crusty. 10/10. Lemongrass Beef Sandwich Bahn mi had tender, higher than average quality beef, marinated thoroughly, cucumber, jalepeno, cilantro, slam dunk. 10/10. Fries were quite impressive. Quick call & order ready fast. Busy interior on a Sunday evening. All in, expectations exceeded, zero complaints. Compliments to the chefs. A+ read more

Phodega - Lemongrass Beef Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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great place with a great theme and great service! run like a little bodega, we walked in and did not know what to expect, but the cold called for some soup and we definitely listened. I was very happy to know that the soup and all the appetizers were sooooooo good. I'm sorry to the person working the counter as we did end up asking for about a million extra limes, but the soup was healing and i'd definitely recommend to anyone looking for some good pho in chicago. read more

I stopped by to Phodega on a cold rainy day to satisfy my soup craving and I left a bit unimpressed. The staff there were super sweet and has outdoor seating and a couple of tables inside. The pho itself was okay, the noodles were soft but the broth was bland:( I had to drown it in lime and jalapeños to give it some sort of taste.. read more

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I thought this place was decent. The atmosphere is super casual and trendy and it's pretty quick service. I tried the Egg Rolls, Pho Bo and the Combination Chicken Rice. Everything tasted good/fine, however, it wasn't amazing. My favorite was probably the chicken plate, specifically the fried chicken. I would have loved to try more items on the menu, but I don't live in this area anymore. It's a good spot to hit up if you are looking for Vietnamese food in West Town area. read more

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Phodega just moved to Division St in Wicker Park, but used to be located close by on Ashland St. I visited their Ashland location just before it closed. Overall, while I thought the food I ordered was just okay / decent, the place really stands out to me with its fun, casual ambience and excellent, friendly staff. The menu is creative and unique too, with an eclectic array of Vietnamese and Asian fusion dishes. They also sell a bunch of Asian / Asian-themed snacks. I ordered the Salt & Pepper Chicken Skins as an appetizer, which was good-- oily and flavorful. I also split the Viet Dip Banh Mi and Spicy Chicken Banh Mi with a friend. I liked the pho jus dip for the Viet Dip Banh Mi-- it elevated the flavor and texture of the sandwich, making it much softer. The sandwich as a whole though was pretty average in flavor. The spicy chicken banh mi had better flavor, especially when adding their spicy sauce and extra hoisin, but was lacking on texture and ingredient diversity. I wish there were more / more substantive ingredients in the sandwich besides the chicken, because after a few bites the flavor and texture became boring. Overall, while I wasn't obsessed with my order this time around, I'd love to come back to their new Division St location and try their other popular menu items-- like their chicken rice, which looked delicious, as well as their other types of banh mi (like the new pho loco burger!). While "Pho" is in their name, I've heard from multiple friends that you can skip the pho here, and try other stuff on the menu... but I'll have to try for myself, eventually. The prices aren't bad either, especially compared to surrounding restaurants in the area. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5 Food: 4.1/5 Ambience: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Overall Value: 4.2/5 read more

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The fried chicken skin alone is a reason to keep coming back! That being said i do really love the pho here too, really tasty. It's a casual ambiance, perfect for stopping in for a quick bite. Service is quick it's order ar the counter! read more

My apologies for not snapping any pictures but this spot was phenomenal! I've had this spot bookmarked for a long time been following them on instagram and everything! Finally I was in the area and it was 6mins away from me so I had to try it! I got a crispy chicken bahn mi and a marinated pork belly sandwich and I did have a favorite although they were both really good! The crispy chicken had me at first bite. The pickled daikon and carrots were perfect the jalapeños perfect crunch and spicy! Oh and I got the pho fries The flavors of the plate was so crazy and savory it was like pho but on fries idk how to describe it but it works! I did get my food to go guess my only complaint is I wish the fries came with a bigger container of the gravy because I didn't think it was enough Other than that I can't wait to come back read more

The inside is pretty small so come prepared to get to go or wait for seating. Honestly they work fast so my group didn't wait that long. I got the pizza puff and the viet dip. Both were good and I would get both again. The broth for the viet dip was very salty but I think it balanced out with the sandwich dipping into it. The pizza puff was a magic puff that was heavenly. I am definitely coming back again! read more

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I tried the Viet dip sandwich and it was one of my favorite things I tried this year. It's really good! My only compliant is that it can get quite cramped and crowded inside. I recommend coming early to get a seat. If they had a bigger space, it would be perfect. read more

The restaurant is small with limited seating, but the warm atmosphere makes up for it. It was our first time, and the servers were all so nice and welcoming. We tried the Hainan Style Chicken Rice, Pho Bo, and The Viet Dip, and everything was delicious--especially comforting during the cold weather. A great spot for a cozy meal! read more

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The guy who took my order was professional and courteous. I ordered pho and the pork belly sandwich. They sandwich was delicious I could have eaten more. The pho was also tasty. The place is clean and the food came out quickly. Definitely would go again when I visit Chicago! read more

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We ordered bah mi sandwiches online! We had one of each of the beef sandwiches and the chicken. They were all loaded with meat and veggies. All three of them were delicious and very satisfying. Definitely will be back. They were ready when we were told they would be. The only thing I would like to know is what the color stickers mean on the sandwiches. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Can't say much about the ambiance vector was take out![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Went to the new consolidated spot in Wicker Park and loved it! I started with the crack wings which lives up to their name - perfectly fried wings with a great garlic, salt and pepper taste. I got the spicy chicken bahn-mi sandwich which was also fantastic. A fresh bun with juicy chicken and a heat that had enough kick for my palate. Service was excellent. They answered all our questions about the menu and promptly brought our order to the patio. read more

Phodega - Crack Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings (5pc) - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The pho broth for the beef is mediocre. You know it's not good because it's not Vietnamese employees... Service is good though read more

Fun decor and ambiance are quickly overshadowed by a concerning lack of quality with the core purpose of the establishment - the food. I ordered the Pho-Fries which came out as a piled-high sloppy mess; I think they were going for something close to poutine. Unfortunately, the broth slathering the fries made them wet which made them crumble instantly when you picked them up and impossible to eat as a shared dish. Where Phodega really disappoints is their Pho - which I was shocked by as it is the core tenant of their restaurant, although maybe I'm wrong. The broth was warm - not hot. The beef brisket was tough and chewy - not tender. The meatballs were cool in the center and had an "I'm about to spoil" tang to them that forced me to spit 2 of them out. Even worse the broth was bland! It lacked the warmth and spice I was longing for. Phodega seems to try to bridge too many cuisines by blending local favorites with Vietnamese flavors. As a Pho restaurant, they are missing their mark by a mile, with poor quality Pho that lacks flavor, freshness, and the medicinal charm you associate with a comforting bowl of Pho. The last slap in the face will be the $60 price tag on for couple of bowls of soup and a sloppy poutine for two. If you're looking for fusion food, maybe this is the place. If you want quality pho then you need to look elsewhere. read more

Love Phodega! The soups and sandwiches are solid, but I love the Phodega fries and the Fried Chicken Rice. Husband tried the Oxtail Soup Pho special and it was delicious - wonderful broth with a generous amount of beef! Service is fine, some of the workers are naturally friendlier than others. No biggie, we're there for the food. Always able to score a table with little or no waiting. Ask for a rewards card and shop at the mini-bodega! read more

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We tried the pho bo, combination chicken rice, and Vietnamese summer salad. The pho was decent, I really liked the meatballs and the broth had good flavor. I don't think I loved the wider noodles they have here. The salad was pretty good, very refreshing but I felt like the ratio of the veggies were off -- there could have been a lot more cabbage and less onions in my opinion! The star of the show for me was the combination chicken rice. The fried chicken was crispy and juicy, and the poached chicken was very tender. The rice was so delicious and flavorful and a nice texture. All the sauces were great but my favorite was the dark sauce. I can see it being hard to find seating here when it's busy as you seat yourself, and order either at the counter or using the QR code at the table. It is a pretty small place. The ambience and decor in the restaurant was pretty cool, a bit grungy and definitely Vietnamese/Asian inspired! Overall definitely recommend! I would come back for the chicken rice, as well as next time I really want to try the Viet Dip! read more

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Phodega was a recommendation by my son, who lives not too far away. It is quite unassuming and, as I think about it, hip. When you walk in, it looks like a New York Bodega. There are a small number of groceries as you walk in, mostly candies. It is small, and they offer counter service. That is where things start to change. The people behind the counter really know what they are doing. They are very patient if you have questions and are in no hurry to get you in and out the door. There were four of us who took the last open booth. There are only a handful of tables and three booths available. They must do a lot of take-out business. We ordered several things: Phodega Fries: Yum! What could be wrong about fries covered with thinly sliced ribeye, cilantro, onions, jalapenos, and gravy over french fries Fried Crack Wings: This one I didn't get to try, but I'm told they were great. Spicy Chicken Bahn Mi: Again, without being able to eat gluten, this wasn't on my dinner list. It was shared by two at the table, one of which is not a fan. She loved it. Pho Ga: This was my meal. While I can say I've had better Pho before, this was nice. The meat was tender; I liked the hard boiled egg, and they were very generous with the rice noodles and vegetables. Fried Chicken Rice: My son had this one. He goes there a lot and this is always his favorite. If you want a romantic candlelit dinner, skip this one. But if you want hot and delicious food, even if you haven't tried Vietnamese food before, give it a try. read more

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I hadn't visited Phodega since its move from Ashland, but the Division location is just as great, with even more seating and the same comforting food. The chicken rice is one of the best in the city - simple, hearty, and delicious (definitely add all the sauces). The interior is lively with funky decor, and the bodega section offers a fun selection of Asian grocery items. read more

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We've dined in and delivery. Tasty flavors and reasonable prices. The Salt & Pepper Chicken Skins were addicting and super crunchy. I also equally liked the Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings. The Spicy Chicken Banh Mi was flavorful, and I loved the range of textures and ingredients. Pho Bo had generous amounts of meat and great quality. The broth was light and especially hits the spot when you're not feeling 100%. Smart packaging, so the noodles stay fresh and not soggy. "Send Noods" and support small business! ;) read more

Phodega - Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings (5pc), Shrimp Rolls, Pho Bo - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Vibe was fun. Idea was good. Food execution - meh. We had Pho bo and the Hainan chicken. Broth was good but the noodles were horrible, so bad my Vietnamese parents couldn't eat it. If my dad won't eat it, it's not good.... We had the egg rolls. Pork was great but the shrimp was plain. Would've been better if they used ground shrimp in the egg roll. Chicken wasn't bad but I've had much better. And the sauces could use some work. Service was a little confusing at first but we figured it out. Parking - good luck! read more

We came here for the hainan chicken and were shocked by the corner store aesthetic. The vibes there were interesting.  What we ordered: Hainan chicken: the chicken was not tough or dry, the rice was very aromatic, and it also came with a chicken broth on the side  Pho Bo: Tasted ok. I don't prefer the thick rice noodles in pho but the broth was good read more

Phodega - Hainan Style Chicken Rice - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Have you ever gotten food-high? I have. From Phodega. The Viet Dip deserves every accolade. It evoked the same primal, emotional response as a gorgeous bowl of pho - which Phodega also does extremely well. read more

Phodega - The Viet Dip - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had a delicious chicken pho with chrysanthemum tea!! Soooo delicious, adorable, and super quick service. My friend and I sat outside and enjoyed the ambiance. Highly recommend. Thank you! read more

Phodega - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was excited to see what all the hype was about at Phodega, and I finally had the chance to go. Nothing beats a warm bowl of soup on cold windy night. A small pho shop located in Wicker Park with limited amount of seating. We grabbed a table and scanned a QR code to order our food. We ordered salt and pepper chicken skin, salt and pepper crack wings, eggrolls (pork and shrimp), Pho Bo, and the chicken rice with both fried/hainan chicken. The eggrolls were our least favorite. They were over cooked, and the meat felt mushy and greasy inside. The chicken wings and skin were delicious and super crispy. I preferred the skins over the wings. On to the entrees: Initial bite of the chicken rice and it has good flavor. I wasn't as impressed with the chicken and rice together. They offered 3 different sauces to accompany the dish, but I still felt like it was missing the traditional ginger scallion oil. I actually preferred to eat the chicken skin with the rice. My favorite part of this dish was the side of chicken broth that came with it. It had the most flavor out of anything that was ordered from the menu. I was able to sample some pho, and the broth was very light clean and fragrant. It was a good ratio of meat to noodles to broth. Overall, the food was mediocre, and the service was meh. Every time we asked the server for something he would point to the station towards the front of the shop that housed utensils, napkins, to go container, and water. It was our first time there, so we overlooked that set up. Glad I was able to experience Phodega, if I'm ever back in that area and wanted pho I would consider it again, but not a place I would go out of my way to go to. PS. Don't forget to visit the wall of Asian snacks for purchase! read more

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Good pho is hard to find outside of Argyle so i'm excited that Phodega has good pho!!! Although your pho options are pretty slim, the beef broth at this hip pho spot is legit. There's table seating on the inside but since it was sunny and warm out, we opted for outdoor seating. You scan the QR code and order on your phone. We got the Pho Bo and the Viet Dip, which according to my bf is the "best sandwich in the city". When I don't want to drive up to Argyle, i'm getting my pho fix at this spot from here on out! read more

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Home sick today. Was craving a delicious, warm and filling soup to make me feel better . I found it here and loved their pho . So delicious. Packaged perfectly with the broth separate and sauces and bean spouts separate to add into the bowl which was filled with yummy noodles, chicken, cilantro, jalapeños and lime. Will return and definitely recommend! read more

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Every time I go to Phodega I'm never let down. Today I had the combination chicken rice plate (steamed chicken and fried chicken) and it was amazing! I've also had the Viet Dip and Pho Bo and again like I said I am never disappointed. The portions are huge so you always have leftovers. The food is priced well, the servers are super friendly and they are always playing great music. I can't say enough good things. read more

Food and service were awesome! Fun and unique concept. The Pho was amazing, of course, but we also had delicious egg rolls and fried shrimp here. Great for teens. read more

Delicious chicken pho that's also naturally gluten free! As a person with celiac disease, it's a godsend!

I have been craving banh mi for the longest time so when my friend suggested to meet here for lunch I was super ecstatic! I got here early (like 11am) so there was still plenty of street parking. I've been on this street/neighborhood before and street parking can be a hit or miss if you come later. I ordered the House Special Banh Mi and the combo chicken rice. My friend ordered the The Viet Dip and the fried chicken skins. My banh mi was perfect - crispy bread on the outside and the inside had a good ratio of meats to veggies. I forgot to take a picture of the cross section which means I'll just have to come back again! It was super delicious and if I lived closer I would order it all the time. I was kind of disappointed in my combo chicken rice. Both of the chicken were dry to me. My friend loved her Viet Dip and the chicken skins were nicely crisp too. The staff were very attentive and friendly. I would totally come back for the banh mi and I would like to try their pho as well. read more

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"Surely they'll have AC in there, right?" Wrong. Maybe it was a bad choice to go for pho on a sweltering day, but sometimes the urge for comforting noodle soup cannot be ignored. Somehow, it was even muggier on the inside of Phodega than it was outside, without a trace of AC (fine). The fans installed around the restaurants weren't blowing (not fine). At least there was a nice self-serve station for water that I could cool myself down with...except there was barely any water left...to the point where the container needed to be tilted for the rest to come out. To be fair, it was less than an hour before closing, yet...they were still open. It's a smaller restaurant, one where you might expect to find the menu hung high on the wall somewhere, but the only easily available menu sat taped to the countertop where you order. To my surprise, there were fries on the menu. Fries at a pho place? It is called Phodega...so I suppose that's not too odd after all. Fries: Delicious! Came out hot, crispy, and with an interesting hint of sweetness. Pho Ga: I got this because it's my go-to pho and a great way to assess pho quality. When the broth did not assault me with a salty flavor, I was impressed! That is, until I realized there was not much flavor to the broth at all. The veggie sides were given in a pre-wrapped plastic bag. I understand the efficiency of prepping the right portions of everything beforehand, but at least remove them from the bag before giving them to a dine-in customer. Bottles of hoisin sauce and *sriracha are available on the counter for customers to grab. *I think it was sriracha. It came in the classic sriracha bottle, but the coloring seemed a bit off. The restaurant itself had a certain lighting that could be attributed to the off-red color, but not the off-sriracha taste. Our server was super great! She was wearing gloves, which I haven't seen done by a server before, and was helpful to grab to-go containers for us (located in the self-serve area, which I didn't notice). However, though the restaurant closes at 9, vacuuming began around 8:45pm. I've worked as a server myself for 2 years and understand the desire to wrap up at the end of a sweaty day, but it's courteous to at least wait for 9:00pm on the dot rather than rush people out with the whirrrr of a vacuum. read more

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We had the opportunity to come by Phodega on their last day at their old location at the beginning of August. We were craving pho, and this definitely hit the spot! I am a big sucker for larger noods, and this pho came with thicker noodles with an ample amount of beef in my soup. My sister ordered the half and half chicken rice and it was delicious as well. The side soup was a bit salty, but it was still tasty with the rice. This location was small, but the ambiance was nice, and the service was efficient. I would love to come by their new location whenever I'm back in Chicago! read more

Phodega - pho bo // ig: @sandyeatslocal - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The servers were really sweet, and ordering process for dine in was really simple done through a QR code at our table. A very lowkey spot with really great food, I'm glad their menu selection isn't incredibly large since it allows them to focus their attention towards perfecting the items that they do have. The pho was really rich and flavorful with a good portion of meat to noodle ratio. I do wish the spring rolls were a little bit larger for the price. read more

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This spot almost brought a tear to my eye. I was walking around Chicago and came across this spot and liked it's look from the outside, so I decided to have lunch here! I got the chicken pho which had a delicious broth and lots of noodles. I would have preferred a liiiitle bit more chicken in the pho, but it was alright since I ended up getting the chicken skins, wings, and the chicken fried rice! The chicken skins are unique, delicious, and come with a decent amount per serving. They might have been my favorite part. The rice here tasted like it was maybe made in a chicken broth? Not sure, but it was heavenly. There wasn't an item here that I didn't like, and I was also in LOVE with all the staff there! This is a really cool spot and I'm glad I stumbled upon it. read more

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Phenomenal creative Vietnamese-inspired food. In the dead of a Chicago winter, a hot bowl of pho is a great comfort meal. We decided to come down here and see what Phodega had to offer. Every single thing we ordered was delicious. We also ordered a bowl of pho and the fried chicken skins but unfortunately the phone wasn't able to eat first but some standouts include: #The Viet Dip Such a satisfying sandwich! Generous amounts of thinly sliced ribeye harken back to a cheesesteak or an Italian beef texturally while still referencing the thinly sliced beef associated with a bowl of pho. The jus was extremely well seasoned (think star anise, beef pho broth, some lemongrass) without being too salty. Jalapeños add some great crunch and heat. Would get again. #Fries These fries had no business being this good!! Every bite was a delight with a gravy that also references the light savory complexity of pho broth. We were surprised at the amount of ribeye the fries came with and we loved the fresh onions, cilantro, and jalapeños. This could honestly be a meal in itself. #Combination Chicken Rice The fried chicken was great. Loved the garlic fried rice. Haianese chicken was just ok. Can't wait to make my way back to phodega! read more

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First time in a long time the portions of a meal have defeated me. Maybe first time ever. Unbelievable amount of pho. Meat was mid but flavor was all there read more

Hip spot for some pho, among other things. Order at the counter and grab a seat, but they do get busy so don't be surprised if you have to put your name down for a table. The food comes out quickly so you won't be waiting too long though. Decent pricing with large portions. Happy to have a great pho spot not by Argyle. read more

Phodega - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois