Very cheap and excellent food! It's definitely a steal! I agree, I do feel rushed at times. CHOO CHOO!!
(5)
Philly D.
What can I tell you? So, I'm eating here with my girlfriend last night- something we do often. We ordered spring rolls, shrimp rolls, a bitchin appetizer with rare beef slices topped with french fried onions, with a lime spiked fish sauce. She wasn't very hungry so she didn't order pho. I, however, ordered the pho tai bo vien. Now, The waiter spent at least about a minute with me, teaching me how to say pho tai bo vien properly. Cool. He's really into his job, and very attentive. One might even say that I may have felt a bit special. A half hour later, we realized that I might not get my pho. Our appetizers were delivered. But no pho. I looked for my waiter throughout that time span and saw him sitting in the back. He then went into the kitchen, or back room, or whatever, and never came back out. So what I'm basically trying to say is that the waiter forgot my pho, then he disappeared, so I didn't get my pho. Are you following me here? I went out to eat pho, and didn't get my pho. At a pho joint. But, despite all of that, those appetizers (and a couple rum flooded jackfruit shakes) were so good, and they made me so happy, that nothing else that happened that night matters. That tells you alot about a place. Five stars, still. If I could add a star I would. Go here, people.
(5)
Mum D.
Best Thai seafood noodle soup I 've had for the lowest price. Absolutely the most delicious broth complimented by ...non-intrusive and efficient service. Hands down the best bargain in town. LOVE IT! Great menu and bar, in terms of balancing creativity and tradition. Only cons: they don't do delivery and it can get a bit noisy-the place is always packed. Don't go: let me have it for myself:-).
(4)
Ronald D.
With Miss Saigon in Jersey City as a benchmark for average Vietnamese food, I am starting to lean towards it being the best I have ever had. Not being from Philly and not researching Asian food for this trip really had me at a disadvantage. Most of my food adventures in Philly are sandwich based, so fortunately I had yelp to fall back on. Sometimes it's a gamble with yelp, but more times than not, I'll find that gem. Since I had researched on yelp mobile, this was the most reviewed restaurant in downtown Chinatown that wasn't Chinese. We ordered plenty, Pad Thai, Beef over rice with poached egg, stew over rice, fried fish. Pad Thai came out of the gate first, like a bolt it took off. The future looked good. Then I got my beef over rice, it came to a slow pace. Stew over rice, a sudden halt. Not good and drops to the bottom of my Vietnamese list. The beef was bland and the poached egg? Just didn't get that. I'll stick to cheesesteaks when I am in Philly. Bad yelp reference.
(2)
Andy X.
This place has the worst staff I've ever encountered. I dined here once and the waiter spilled soup all over me and didn't apologize or anything. He immediately left the scene and non of the staffs responded to the mess he made. It was probably one of the worst dinning experience of my life. I will never go back to that dump.
(1)
Jack S.
This is one of my favorite Chinatown destinations--it's cheap and delicious! I always order the Tom Yum soup (perfect if you're craving hot and sour--esp. in the wintertime), the raw flank steak (served with fresh cilantro, crispy shallots/garlic, crushed peanuts, and a chili vinaigrette), and usually a whole steamed striped bass with ginger and scallions--and for around $20 a whole, fresh fish is a super bargain. And an avocado shake for dessert! YUM!!! And let's get to the good part: C H E A P A L C O H O L. Awesome. Beers are under $3, mixed drinks are under $5. But that's everywhere in Chinatown pretty much. Any minuses would be that it takes a long time to get a check or refills sometimes, and I think it closes pretty early--like 10pm?
(4)
Diana H.
I've been here three times so far and I'm sure I'll be back. The food is affordable, authentic, and good. My favorites so far are the special combo vermicelli and papaya salad. I'm actually not a big fan of the pho itself - the broth seemed really lacking in flavor - but it is amazing value and tastes good once you add some extra seasoning. Friendly, fast service, definitely recommended.
(4)
Gary E.
The chu chu train! Great soup but most of the stuff on flat plates that I've had there has been pretty generic. Their raw beef covered in peanuts is pretty good for all the raw beef & peanut enthusiasts out there and their shrimp balls on sugarcane are also good. The waiters are great (love that tall, skinny old guy) but if you order booze you may have to explain what whiskey is and how it's served. Also a friend of mine ordered something with beef balls there, and we were pretty sure that they were actually beef testicles. He made himself vomit from shame in the parking lot, so I would stay away from anything called beef ball in that place.
(4)
Geoff c.
i love you choochoo. there is a train on their front window. the chinese on the side also says train. Good pho. Good price. Good portions. Food is ready almost instantaneously. Very accessible from the subway lines. Decor is bland. Ambiance is lacking. Staff isn't the friendliest. But you're in chinatown. and you're eating pho. If that's what you're looking for, you're in the wrong part of the city. And probably looking for the wrong type of cuisine. So if you want to included those into the rating and compare it to all other types of restaurants, maybe choochoo gets a 4/5 stars. ive been here often. will be back many more times. NOTE - theyre not open on wednesdays. Even though this yelp page says they are.
(4)
Yen T.
I was initially going to try out another pho place but since it wasn't open at 11 (even though it said it would be open), I decided to try this one instead (since they open at 10:30). Typical of most pho places this place was a no frills kind of place: decor was lacking and the service was fine. I ordered pho with meatballs and before I put all of the other stuff in it (sriracha, hoisen sauce, herbs) I try the broth; if the broth is good, the pho is going to be good. And it *was* pretty good. I was satisfied.
(4)
Jess D.
Good pho at a great price! I usually go to Nam Phuong in South Philly but wanted to find a place closer to home My girlfriend and I had pho and shared a rice place and my boyfriend had the seafood hong kong style noodles. We were all very happy and very impressed by both the service and price! $30 for 3 people for dinner was not bad at all. The ambiance is not fancy at all so don't expect much. It has your typical vietnamese restaurant kind of ambiance. I'm definitely going to make my way back next time I need my Pho fix!
(4)
Brye L.
Oh my goodness...I have to embrace all my new BFF's.... Philly yelpers, you rock. Let me just start off by saying you saved me from myself. I was thinking... "Well hell, I'm in Philly, I had better get myself a Philly cheese-steak." I would still be writhing from that gut bomb ( not that I wouldn't have enjoyed every whiz filled morsel). I almost did it, however.... with the rain a bowl of pho sounded like a good comforty idea Being from San francisco I have to admit I have a hard time trusting ethnic food outside my seven mile by seven mile food utopia on the west coast. Philly yelpers steered me right....I wish I has someone to share this experience with. The broth on my pork chop pho was perfectly spiced, not to salty. My thin grilled pork chop was exactly like I dream of them...with a grilled sweet flavor that I will be craving for weeks to come. I was so caught up in the experience that I took a take out menu.....ummmmm three thousand miles might be a little difficult. Maybe I'll just sleep with it under my pillow and have sweet pho dreams.
(5)
kathy t.
Decent pho for center city, with a high variety menu (enough options to satisfy even a group of vegetarians). I third the recommendation for Washington Ave pho if you can get out there with a car, but the choochoo train is a reasonable substitute. I also recommend the beef with chinese broccoli (this was an I'll have what they're having moment). Full range of the icy milkshake drinks (mango, yellow bean, etc) and licensed to boot. Spare atmosphere, efficient speedy service. Not wheelchair accessible.
(5)
Ma-e M.
I never want to take a pho to go. I always have it hot at the restaurant. It's just not good to eat at home. I want to savor it while it's hot. It's best when they serve it to you and you are ready to slurp the soup. It's always been my practice that if I want pho, I want it now. Pho aside, we came back to this restaurant because we really liked it's fast service and good food. My partner ordered noodles with seafood but to our surprise and disappointment, he found a big chuck of hair in his food (just like the hair you'll find in the bath tub - yuk!). It's really horrible because I don't understand why would a big chuck of hair will get in the food unless, you use to wash the seafood in the sink and the the cook showers there too. It's careless and therefore, unacceptable. I don't care if the manager thinks that it was an accident. They should be very very careful in preparing/cooking the food and should take more time to clean the food. For that matter, I got to downgrade it because all I can remember is that strands of hair in the seafood - even a seconds won't make me eat it again. You might not see me here again because down the block is Pho 75. I'll check it out next time we are in Philly Chinatown.
(3)
Elizabeth H.
Our meal was delicious. I had the "everything" pho (the first pho listed on the menu) and shared a papaya salad with beef jerky as an appetizer. It was soo good! The papaya and veggies for the pho (basil, bean sprouts, and lime) were so fresh too! The meal was super cheap and I was so full at the end. I'm looking forward to going back again! :)
(5)
Wendy L.
I'm giving 5 stars for the pho and beef bun! Coming from LA, I cannot believe that I had the best pho ever in Philadelphia of all places. I was visiting my best friend and she took me here for lunch. The place was very crowded on a Friday. It's pretty clean. Service is fast. Their lime soda is pretty good and is my friend's favorite drink there. The pho comes in only large and extra large! The prices are really good. Their large is usually the large bowls that my hubby gets in pho restaurants in LA. I typically get regular size bowls and can't finish them. So this was crazy big. I can't imagine who can finish their extra large bowls. The broth is super flavorful and not greasy. The meat was really tender and noodles super good and not stuck together like a giant noodle ball. I asked for no cilantro as usual and was so happy that they didn't just give me a bowl with no seasoning (since many pho restaurants mix their cilantro and green onions together). Instead they gave me lots of green onions just the way I like it!! Major points for them! My friend ordered the beef bun. I was sooo surprised at how good the beef was. It was high quality meat (more like steak) and super flavorful and tender. Yummy! I only wish they have places like that here. I'll bet there are places this good in Westminster but I didn't expect this in Philly. Well done!
(5)
Sara C.
When looking to grab some pho in the city, this is always my first choice. The chicken is always tender - not rubbery or chewy like the pho joint much closer to my house. Definitely a no frills atmosphere, and the Thai food is not quite as good, but you will never leave hungry. And $2.50 Sapporo - not bad, either.
(4)
Patrick K.
Kinda nasty environment even for a pho place, but holy hell the bowls are HUGE and the summer rolls are HUGE! Everything in this place is mamoth. Great place to go if you're hungry. I felt a bit uncomfortable a few times when I went there...is there such thing as a vietnamese mafia?:-) Definately one to check out though, don't miss..BRING YOUR APPETITE!
(5)
Courtney J.
I'm not trying to hate, but I think this place is a little too hyped up. I've been to "the train" a couple times now for pho and thought it was good, but not great. The portion is generous, but my husband and I both agreed we got more beef and noodles over at Pho 75. That's where I'll be when I get my next pho craving. The cold spring rolls were a disappointment. The shrimp roll had barely any shrimp and the pork roll was dry and hard to swallow. I also ordered a lemon soda and it had no fiz! Weird. I haven't given the Thai dishes a chance yet, but maybe they'll change my mind about this place.
(3)
Jordan K.
Very good pho, just try to avoid any of the meat varieties with copious fat-chunks in them. To be frank, it's a bit of a turn-off to see huge mounds of cow fat floating around in your soup, especially when the other beef selections are so much tastier. Other than that, enjoy this authentic and very tasty purveyor of Vietnamese cuisine.
(4)
Caroline L.
Wandered in here with my boyfriend after reviewing a few Yelp recommendations. We had a good (and cheap) meal. It was more authentic than any of the stuff I've had in NYC. Not the best Vietnamese food I've ever had but was a nice back up when the place I really wanted to visit was closed for a summer vacay.
(4)
Chris S.
I really like this place. They're a little "brisk" when it comes to service, but their food makes up for it. Good portion size, good quality, good value. Will definitely repeat! I think you have to know what to order, so for those that gave it low ratings, try ordering something else next time. I had some BBQ thing with this egg side dish that was yummy....I don't know what was in it, but it had egg and some other stuff.
(4)
J D.
incredible. yes. amazing.
(4)
Maruko X.
the best vietnam noodle in Philadelphia
(4)
Vimala R.
Fragrant pho, loved the sour plum drink! Very few veggie options.
(4)
Christine T.
My favorite pho place in Philly! Great prices, size and taste! I'm a huge fan of the various pho & bun. They also do a really good salt baked squid and Seafood over Rice noodles.
(4)
Nancy T.
This has the best Pho in Philly and the best value. One can drop by any time of the day or night for a bowl of Pho. Great during thses frigid weather - warms your soul. It has many other delicious dishes too (Vietnamese, Chinese,and Thai). Enjoy!
(5)
Kimberly H.
Yum! Bring a sweater it's cold. And whatever you do, do NOT order the x-large soup for just you. It could easily feed three of you. Really good thai noodles, too, though not very "thai".
(4)
Tony S.
A bowl of Pho (#101) would probably make our Vice President jump out from his seat and yelp "This is a big f--king deal". Yes! That was my reaction, and many yelpers too, who tried it in Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai (choo choo restaurant). It tastes so good and makes me want to yell (but obviously I didn't), instead, I yelp to you now. so let's begin: Pho #101 (Large or Extra-Large): Even you order a large bowl; you will be amazed by its size when the bowl is actually sitting in front of you. Yes, it's HUGE in my opinion. Inside the bowl, a pile of various types of beef and beef inner parts (such as thin cuts of beef, brisket, fatty flank, tendon, tripe...etc) that covers up top. Right under them, you will find a ton (a little bit exaggeration) of white rice noodles in clear beef broth. Let me rephrase myself one more time on the last part of my sentence : CLEAR BEEF broth (many other restaurants are serving NO-CLEAR, NO-Beef, or nasty broth). If you dare to look at it again, you will probably think that you are getting an extra-large order (don't be shy about it, ladies!). A plate of fresh greens, herbs, vegetables and various others are right next to your soup and waiting for actions. Once you properly "mix" them into your soup, Da..da..da!! delicious! Yet, the price is under 7 dollar. Can't be that. Pad Thai: Spaghetti like rice noodle mixed with red hot/sweet sauce covered up by big shrimps, dry tofu and others on top looks very nice. And of course it tastes good too. It's one of the best pad thais I have in Philly so far. Yes, it's under $10. Great deal, great taste! Many other "Exotic" drinks such as martinis with various flavor, bubble teas, and Avocado smooth drinks are very tasty, and yet, probably the cheapest in town! Try them yourself in this Choo choo restaurant !!
(4)
B B.
Good food at a good price, the pho ga hit the spot on a warm spring night.
(4)
Julie S.
Came here on a weekday with a friend before the noon time lunch rush. The pho was hot, slurpy goodness on a really cold day. The large bowl is huge, and the xlarge bowl is enough to feed 4 friends, unless you are REALLY hungry. The spring rolls were crunchy, fried and tasty. All this great food for less than $20, what a deal! I'll be back with lots of friends!
(4)
Nicholas P.
This place is no joke! Fast service and all. The papaya/beef jerky salad is very nice. Beef and frank brisket is a must. Choo choo is choolicious!!
(5)
Dominic R.
Pho for under 6 bucks? Pho'k yeah
(4)
Jenn T.
A hidden gem in Chinatown. The food is affordable and delicious. Perfect for college students who want good food and cheap prices or anyone on a tight budget. This place is also a fantastic date spot. The atmosphere is great and the interior is well decorated.
(5)
Yo M.
Duck leg Egg noodle soup! Seriously Vietnamese food, in Philly!?! Wowza! Thanks for the rec Alyssa!
(3)
Karen L.
When I lived in Philly, I went here often. Cheap, quick, and I love the seafood soup. Look for the choo choo train on the front door!
(4)
Betty N.
If you want a place with no-frills, but cheap and tasty Vietnamese food, with efficient service, this is the place to go. The grilled sirloin beef cubes (don't know the dish's actual name) and the beef wrapped in grape leaf appetizer have been consistently good. Although the pho is not the best I've had, it is tasty and comes in huge bowls. The grilled chicken on rice is very good too. Generally, I've found their vegetable dishes good. If you're a little adventurous, try their fried frog legs. It's also nice that the waitstaff is generally nice and efficient.
(4)
Eddie C.
The Train should be categorized as the best spot for Pho in Chinatown, as it does fall a bit short versus other restaurants in South Philly. The portions are a bit smaller and the broth is on the oily side. With that said, they do offer a decent bowl of soup and you won't be disappointed. You can head next door for Bubble Tea afterwards. The main issue is parking for those of us who don't live in the city. Why fight for parking in Chinatown when you can drive up Washington and park in a lot for free.
(4)
Jonathan O.
Honestly this is one of my favorite places in Philly to get Pho. The greens are always fresh and when I get it to go the beef is ALWAYS on the side. Plus when I have my baby girl with me they will bring it out to our car! That's service! It has made me a convert from 6th and Washington.
(4)
Emanuel K.
This is the cheapest Vietnamese joint in town. Their seemingly endless menu offers everything you'd find at the fancier places (at about half the price) and far more, including numerous Thai dishes. The service is fast, the food is delicious. Nuff said.
(5)
Ivy L.
This is a great place for a cheap quick meal. I was in the mood for Vietnamese but Vietnam(the best vet food on earth) was closed, we ended up here for lunch... not bad. Please note the shrimp will not be peeled or cleaned if you order it! I had tofu vermicelli... so good! I recommend the iced chi tea or avocado smoothie, yum.
(4)
C K.
I gravitate towards this place for the food and low prices. I enjoy eating the vegetable pho and chicken fried rice. I would also enjoy eating the summer rolls if they removed the intestinal line on the shrimp. Disgusting!
(4)
Paul C.
I have been going here since college and still have the best pho in philly! You just can't go wrong with XLG bowl of Pho!
(4)
Gracie N.
If you're looking for great decor: wrong spot, but great pho: perfect spot!
(4)
Christina Q.
I consider this to be my first time having pho. In truth, I have had it before, but the dish was unmemorable and I was so clueless in my technique that it simply did not count. So, I started fresh at Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai, and I'm glad I did. I had the Beef Pho and I instantly understood the hype. I do not have the experience to say that this is the best, as many others have, but I did enjoy the dish and trust that this could be some of Philly's best. The servers at Pho Xe Lau Viet Thai were eager to remind me that I am a newcomer. I know the reason, it's because my boyfriend is Asian and he is therefore superior in this setting. I am used to being ignored when in this situation and know that they will only address him. But when you give me the fork, you hurt my feelings. I will not hold it against you, I loved the Pho and I will be back for more. Maybe in time I can prove myself to you, servers of Pho Xe Lau Viet Thai. Looking forward to it!
(4)
Brooke M.
Decent Pho. Not the best I've ever had. Service was mediocre.
(3)
Karman L.
Agree with Chris L.'s Review. I usually can inhale the whole bowl of pho easily, but the portion here is quite generous, I actually couldn't finish! Both the soup and the noodle are great! You should also try their Vietnamese coffee! I'm so wired now!
(5)
Herb L.
My favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown. And cheap, because it only reaches my defined price range as defined by my friends' appetites (read as LARGE.) Large enough for groups with 2/F, good drinks, huge bowls of pho, nice tanks of seafood upfront.
(4)
Jake P.
This is my favorite stop in Chinatown. They're open late, they're dirt cheap, and the menu makes you want to be daring (for newbies to Pho like me). Honestly, what I like about Pho Xe Lua too, is it's atmosphere. Whatever time of day, this place is packed. Eaters are lively, friendly, and it's just a great example of Philadelphia at its best. Parking is growing more impossible by the month, so this is a better catch if you live within walking distance. But there is no way I like to end a stressful week, then heading here for some pho and appetizers. No other place in Philly makes me say, "I'll have what she's having," like this spot. P.S. the neon train in the window will be mine if I ever win the lotto.
(5)
Matthew C.
Choo choo pho is the best bang for your buck in philly, hand down. I've been going here for years now but when I first moved to philly, my buddy and I searched for the best pho in town. Being from the bay area in california, pho is a staple! The portions we found here were gigantic and the food was pretty good all around, not the best but for how cheap it is and how much you get, this truly is a great deal. Their other menu items like the curries, vermicelli bowls and spring rolls are also delicious and a good size. I started bringing a bunch of my friends in and now we're all hooked on choo choo pho. They know us so well when we come in that we simply raise our hands for those who want an XL-105 and the servers know what the other regulars like too, whether it be the yellow curry chicken or pad thai. If you're on a budget, this place will spare your wallet and totally satisfy you stomach :)
(5)
Chris L.
If you want the best Pho in Philly Chinatown, check out Pho Xe Lua (or the train/choo choo place). Not only is it one of the best in Philly, it also gives the most generous portion of Pho (vietnamese noodles), it's not that expensive, and service is super fast. They also have some good smoothies, like the strawberry or mango smoothie, along with other flavors. Their rice entrees are also pretty good, but their trademark dish is the pho. I've also had their thai coconut chicken soup... very awesome. I recommend this place for anyone who wants some fast cheap food in Chinatown. Note: they close on Wednesdays.
(5)
Steven K.
The worst dining experience to memory. I don't know why there were four stars but they were what brought my friend and I to go out and try "Choo Choo" - Pho Xe Lua - this evening. Following the posts of previous users, we ordered the curry chicken and potatoes, and also tried the vegetable pad thai. Oh boy. The curry chicken and potatoes could not even compete with boxed, store-bought curry. The dish was extremely salty, and the potatoes were old, low quality, and didn't feel, taste, or even look like potatoes. They seemed to have been soaking in the curry sauce for some time, yet somehow the dish came out within 3 or 4 minutes of ordering. Hrm.... Oh and the pad thai! If this dish was brought to me without knowing its origin, and I were to guess what it was, and of what ethnic variety it came from, I would have been clueless. Does pad thai have tomato sauce in it? Does it usually come with mushrooms and broccoli? Does it taste like spicy cardboard with noodles like spaghetti? If you answered yes to any of these questions, hurry on down to Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Choo Choo Train restaurant on Race street. Clearly, my friend and I would never come back to the restaurant, as there are a plethora of cheap eats in Chinatown. Just take a few seconds to contemplate the nickname of this restaurant. Does it make any sense to you? NO - and the food doesn't make sense either!
(1)
Ritu K.
cheap tasty food- what's not to love! what it lacks for in ambiance and charm, it makes up for with yummy pho and super fast service. its usually packed but being seated fairly promptly is usually not an issue. the menu is extensive (and having only eaten a few things off the menu i can't speak for the hundreds of items here), but what i've had i love. the broth of the pho is very flavorful, the curry chicken with rice (a simple but hearty dish) always tastes right and we walk out of here completely satiated and satisfied, having spent only $20 for dinner and drinks. kind of divey inside, but excellent value and tasty food.
(4)
steven e.
No one knows the real name of this place. Everyone just calls it the Choo Choo train. They have excellent pho and horrible thai food. Love your toilet. Stick with the pho.
(5)
Dredge K.
today we had two dishes: the dac biet (special) pho and the bun bo hue these were very common vietnamese noodle soups the pho was disappointing, the portions were good and there was a lot of meat, but the flavor had little depth (there was a nice extra hint of cinnamon but that didn't make up for the lack of other flavors), the meat was cut too thick, and the noodles were overcooked this was the WORST bun bo hue i have ever had in my life! 1) the bowl was small, not a pho sized bowl, but a soup sized bowl - u know? 2) the broth was soooooo bland, as in, no flavor - and they did not provide the extra hit of shrimp paste on the side that is traditional of this dish to give it an extra kick 3) the meats were lacking: like where were the coagulated blood cubes that make bbh different from other soups like pho? 4) the garnishes they gave were the same as the garnishes for pho (lime, bean sprouts, basil) when bbh should come with (lime, shredded cabbage, and shredded banana flower), since the soup is different, different garnishes will highlight it it was loud and i was annoyed by all the misbehaving kids, what has happened to the well-behaved asian child, i was one, why can't these kids sit still and eat?
(1)
Brenton W.
I have been going here for almost 8 years. It is consistently good. No Frills, large portions, very fast and priced great. I am a creature of habit and pretty much order the same thing (#107 add beef balls) almost every time. It is always piping hot,flavorful and always plenty of beef balls, tendon, tripe and brisket. The spring rolls are very good also. You can tell they are fried to order, unlike another well know vietnamese spot on 11th street. The service isnt anything to write home about but that never bothers me. They have the strongest, sweetend iced vietnamese coffee in town. Its a must after dinner. While there are plenty of great PHO spots in the city, this is my go to everytime I am craving soup. I love the computer screens all over the walls displaying certain house specialties. The only strange thing to me is they are closed on Weds.
(4)
Kent W.
The rice and noodles dishes are freaky good and hearty. Pork and spring roll w/ vermicelli, curry chicken w/ potato, and the pad thai are tha best. The drinks are good too. I tried the pennyworth and the avacado milkshake. The Pho weren't too bad either. One of my favorite place to eat in Phily.
(4)
Bob L.
Very good Thai restaurant at a really great bargain. The Pho is some of the best I've had in the city and the dinner plates are great too. Try the beef briscuit pho with meat balls...fantastic. You get some great dinner combos at a very cheap price. The service is usually a bit unfriendly, but I've never felt unwelcome or out of place. It's not a BYO, but they have cheap Tsing Lao beer and some good cocktails if you're interested.
(4)
SOUMEN B.
This most unassuming little place in Philly Chinatown is MY NUMBER 1 RESTAURANT IN ALL USA!!! Now let me explain why. I am not a big fan of overly pretentious places and this place is as unpretentious as it gets. But then it still has ambience - of the most natural and relaxed kind. The clientele is very eclectic and the restaurant, being located smack dab in the middle of Philly Chinatown is very accessible. But of course, none of these is the main reason why I love it so much. It's the food, stupid!! And at a throwaway price too to boot. My staple for several years have been number 215 - the Thai style shrimp green curry on rice for $5.95 and number 409 - filet mignon in lemon grass sauce (Bo Luc Lac) for $12.95. Thai and Vietnamese food are my two most favorite types of cuisine and this place combines both in a way that I have not found anywhere else in the US. The Pho is most definitely the greatest I have tasted anywhere and if you're not sure of what to choose, is a great beginner's dish here. They also have just the right sauces on the table, drinks (alcoholic and otherwise, including those exotic Asian soft drinks) and prompt service. The only reason I am not getting around to going there more often is the slightly iffy parking in Philly Chinatown - but that's really a very minor quibble. Tip: Street parking there is free after 8:00 PM.
(5)
Arthur D.
If you want a cheap dinner, this place has lots of $5 entrees. The portions are huge, but of course you shouldn't expect entirely choicy, lean cuts. Service is quick and decent, especially for Chinatown. The only other quibble I have is the appetizer menu, which isn't that appetizing to me.
(4)
Jessica C.
this is why i love chinatown. authentic food. reasonably priced. they're known for their pho but also try the spring rolls and thai chicken with lemongrass! yumm. owners are really cool, too =)
(5)
Jenny U.
Best place in Philly for vietnamese food. Never been disappointed. The food is alsways fresh and I also call it the choo choo restaurant.
(5)
Maria C.
My friend and I came here during a day trip. She used to live in Philly and this was one of her usual hangouts, so she was very excited to bring me! I had the rice dish with shredded pork and grilled pork, and egg. I also had a lychee drink. Everything was super tasty! My favorite part, other than the grilled pork itself, was the bill, which on my end came to around $10 after tipping and even with the drink. Wonderful!
(5)
Destiny S.
This is one of my favorite pho spots, there is another one close by that I go to as well. The pho here is sooo good and it's a bit less expensive than the other place I visit. I bring everyone to eat pho here! Everyone I brought enjoyed it except one, (but she wasn't an adventurous eater). I can not wait to go back and get pho again. The smoothies they have are delicious and taste really fresh. I bought a mango smoothie and it was pretty awesome! This is definitely one of my go to spots because I haven't had a bad experience yet and I've come here to get pho many times!
(4)
Nicolas N.
This was my go-to Vietnamese restaurant for pho in Chinatown. But, lately it seems like quality has depreciated a lot. Price is reasonable but it is still low value if food is low grade. Two stars for poor quality food and value, despite friendly service. Go elsewhere to another restaurant that doesn't serve old meat with their pho or rice, shrimp and veggies that was kept in fridge for too long. The meat in the pho xe lua tasted like it was previously frozen. The shrimp and pork spring rolls were tasteless and the shrimp tasted stale and old. The iced coffee is decent. The sugarcane shrimp paste (one of my fav appetizer) was the worst I have had. I write this honest review with a heavy heart...and with the proclamation that doesn't seem to be any decent Vietnamese restaurants (after firsthand experience) in Chinatown in Philly. Disappointment: It is the worst of all emotions Creeping in like a snake Seizing your breath and tongue A chill that raises the hair on your arms Your stomach drops and your face Turns hot Disappointment. It is not fleeting like anger Or easily soothed like sadness It's brother is bitterness and It's sister is misery Leaving a stain that can only be cut out Disappointment.
(2)
Christine V.
Good pho place in Chinatown with a lot of options to choose from. Pho, rice plates, vermicelli, other entrees, you name it. I ordered the vermicelli bowl with grilled pork, shrimp cake, and grilled pork balls (that's bun thit nuong, chao tom, and nem nuong for my fellow Vietnamese readers). It was a solid bowl of noodles. A little heavy on the lettuce and not so much the vermicelli, but the amount of grilled pork made up for it. The fish sauce was not as flavorful as I like but it still managed to add some Viet flavor to the dish. Overall, a pretty decent Vietnamese establishment in Chinatown!
(3)
Teresa V.
Regardless of whether or not you are having an immense craving for Vietnamese cuisine, I would not recommend coming here for multiple reasons. The food, menu options, and prices were on par with any other typical Vietnamese restaurant. And trust me, there are quite a decent number of better valued Vietnamese restaurants in the Philly area that are much more worth your bucks. The spacing in the restaurant is fairly tight, most likely in an attempt to accommodate the large number of people who would come in because of its busy location. And you, my friend, should consider yourself intelligent and give yourself a nice pat on the back, for doing the appropriate research on this place prior to coming (unless you're all ready seated that is). Both service and cleanliness need improvements, which were what brought my overall rating for this place from an average rating of 3, down to a "meh" rating of 2 stars. I mean, check out the little surprise surprise metal piecing found in one of our meals. Therefore, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a proper meal. While the food and pricing are "aye okay," overall, it's just not worth the experience. There's plenty of awesome Vietnamese restaurants in the city that are well worth your time and money, even if it's a wee bit more out of your way.
(2)
Rosy V.
This isn't my personal choice for a Vietnamese restaurant, but a friend wanted pho and she chose this so I went with it. For starters since we were a large group they placed us near the back but it was pretty uncomfortable, at least for me, because the servers would just stand there are stare at our table. But besides that let's get on with the rest of the review... Food was decent prices, very inexpensive for a large amount of food. My sister ordered a "small dish" on the menu and it was pretty large. But besides the size of the food being good, the food itself was decent tasting. Nothing special, but it wasn't bad. The one thing that made this review bad was my other sister's dish had a piece of metal in it the size of the tip of your pinky.......I didn't know about it until we left the restaurant otherwise I would've complained about it and taken a picture as proof. I would've understood if it was a tiny piece of plastic, but a piece of metal??? That was really bad. I would personally never come back here due to the metal and due feeling slightly uncomfortable due to the staff. And if you REALLY want Vietnamese food drive a little further and out of Chinatown and you'll find pretty decent Viet restaurants out there. And honestly if I were in Chinatown Philly go eat Chinese food not Vietnamese there.
(2)
Brie V.
Came here for the first time and ordered pho with chicken. It was pretty OK; it was not the best pho I have ever had nor was it the worse. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here (like I did this time) but, if I were in the neighborhood, I might be willing to stop here for a steaming bowl of pho for lunch...but I would probablly just go try the pho at one of the other nearby establishments.
(3)
Zinnia M.
Best pho in Philly! They have this recipe perfected for sure. The waitstaff can be kind of brusque, but I'm not there to be coddled! They bring out your pho super fast and it always hits the spot. Bring cash because they have a credit minimum (I think $10) and a regular size is certainly under that. I've never needed an XL because the regular is so filling. Complimentary green tea to boot. Can't beat it!
(5)
Feebee A.
Hello there awesome new PHO spot. Clearly, I am in a full blown exploration of the great city of brotherly love. So the far the food bad been good but this place just made my experience in this city that much better. My co-worker and I were craving some delicious pho and had no idea where to go. But, when in doubt Yelp! Being that this spot is located in the heart of Chinatown, we knew we were in for a treat. When we first walked in, a gentlemen behind the counter greeted us. He was extremely friendly! Asked us where we're from, what we enjoyed to eat, and made suggestions. All while we waited for a table. While we were waiting, we noticed their extremely large menu and the fact that it was PACKED! Granted we came during lunch time, but there was no empty seat in the house. I stuck with my basic chicken pho (I know who gets that and not beef but don't judge me) and it was so deliciously yummy. I get scared/worried trying new Asian spots and I def will be sticking to this spot for my pho. My coworkers got bun which they raved about! All in all great spot. There is no going wrong with cheap good food.
(5)
Tiffany T.
This review is for their Chicken Pho (Pho Ga) only. If you're ordering chicken pho -- the honest opinion is 2/5 stars.. I've definitely experienced better. But I rounded to a 3 star, since this location isn't known for their chicken pho and I don't feel like a lower rating is fair as this is the only dish I tried. $6.75 including tax, so your standard pho price. The broth is light, but not very flavorful at all. The chicken is not bone-in, as the menu states it is " shredded chicken". Some of the chicken was very tender -- some of the pieces were undercooked unfortunately and that's a big NO-NO for chicken. Would not return for chicken pho. I've heard great things about their beef pho though
(3)
Ryan M.
I am a tremendous fan of this venue! I come here all the time for two main reasons: 1) LOW prices and 2) excellent selection. The food out of here is authentic and is not of the take out style. it is well-prepared and for as low as $5.50 you can enjoy a FULL meal. I eat here all the time for lunch and get it to-go for dinner often as I work nights and do not have time to prepare dinner. It is cheaper than Subway, McDonald's, and fast food style Chinese take-out but it is a real meal and the portion size is more than enough to feed a 165 lb male as myself. do yourself a favor and check it out. You won't find any compromises on quality or portion size with the low prices here.
(5)
Wayne H.
Closed till 7/23! We walked all the way from the Independence Hall for some pho & iced coffee for lunch. Went next door instead. Check out my review of Viet... House.
(3)
Dee M.
Anytime i go to an Asian restaurant and most of the patrons are of the restaurants nationality I get a big smile on my face. Such was the case here. To me it means they are authentic.Dined alone here tonight and it was comfortable. Kind, attentive service. Menu: Sliced beef and beef balls Pho in a large bowl of broth. Took half home. Served with a fresh pot of free tea which helped on a dreary, rainy cold night. Takeout was shrimp rolls. The dine in and takeout were great. Drumroll: total bill was 9.99!! You read that right. Liked this affordable chinatown Viet Thai place so much i bought Xmas gift cards.
(4)
Victoria R.
This place is your typical, authentic Southeast Asian restaurant! I love it here. My husband and I will walk 30 minutes to Chinatown just to have a bowl of their delicious Pho! It's the best price too! Seriously, so good it brings back good childhood moments. For me, it's like that moment when that crazy bitter critic in Ratatouille takes a bite of the best meal the rat has to offer and it triggers nostalgia? Yeah, that's what their pho does to me. Makes me cry for my momma. Ain't no shame in that.
(5)
Vanessa T.
Pho CHOO CHOO as everyone seems to call it, is probably the restaurant I would go to for vietnamese food in chinatown. They have a very wide range of variety when it comes to their menu. You can find chinese food, vietnamese food, and thai food here. I've been here a few times before, this time I decided to try their bun bo hue. The noodles were overcooked (too soft); however, the broth was pretty flavorful but wasn't spicy enough for me, I had to add the green peppers that came in the pho plate. Even then, it wasn't spicy enough. The beef in the bun bo hue was good but the pig feet (I normally don't eat but decided to try today) was very chewy, I don't know if it's suppose to taste like that or if it's undercooked. I've had their pad thai here before. The portion is rather large and I tasted too much ketchup in it (not a fan). As for the pho, it is pretty good, my friend ate the whole bowl and the soup, so it must be really good. They only come in large and extra large. This place is quite a deal when it comes to pricing. A bowl of pho large is 6.50 and so was my bun bo hue, so our meal came out to be 13 dollars and some change. As far as service, let's not kid ourselves, this is an asian restaurant in chinatown. Their style of service is eat and leave. I would likely come back to try some other dishes.
(3)
Riley S.
Hands down, best pho in the city of Philadelphia. Been going to this place for years. Don't expect great service but it is made up for by the incredible food. I usually stick with the 101 (comes with all cuts of meats) and summer wraps which come with a side of peanut sauce. You can get all this for ~10$.
(5)
Sammip P.
While trying out all the different Pho places around Philly, I find that this was mediocre. The broth was watery and had almost no flavor to it. Perhaps because it was Saturday during lunch time and it was starting to get pretty busy. But still, the broth is everything and I was let down by it. The meat was tender and delicious and the staff was very friendly. All in all, I'm glad I went here once
(3)
Anna Y.
By far the best pho I've had since I moved to Philadelphia. It's cheap, the broth is made fresh daily, service is always great, and the food always comes out so fast!. Always my to go place for pho.
(5)
Michele Q.
I think I found my new go-to pho spot in Philly Chinatown! I always tend to frequent Pho Cali when I'm in town because it was right around the corner from the Greyhound bus station. But I've come to find that they're getting a bit expensive for the quantity and quality of their food. This time around, I was determined to try out a new place. Thumbs up, Pho Xe - a bit of a walk but totally worth it! Ordered the banh cuon and pho for myself (clearly a fatty) but started to have second thoughts when the banh cuon (app) looked like a full meal! Silly me, I should have known better. But my momma taught me to never waste food and everything was fabulous. The pho was delicious and plentiful. I was also super glad my friend decided to join me because I needed to take a break from eating before I could finish the rest of my food. She ended up ordering an app and a bowl of pho as well and we both ordered Coronas. All in all, the bill only came to $30! Gotta say that's a great deal!
(4)
Jack J.
Probably the best pho place in Chinatown. Made my bowl an XL because I'm a pig and it was definitely a lot of food. $7.50 for a large bowl of warm goodness on a winter day is unbeatable. Although the pho places near the Italian market is still better, this is as good as it gets in center city east. Our server wasn't that attentive though, didn't refill our water once. I need my cold water with warm foods!
(4)
Justine S.
We were craving Vietnamese for lunch and we decided to give this place a try. I ordered the Hu Tieu Mi Sate Bo Kho (rice noodle beef stew) it was OK. The beef itself was tender and good, however the sauce and overall flavor of the dish was alright, I was not a fan and I've had this dish before at other establishments. My BF ordered pho- the broth was very tasty even without any sauce. We both ordered Vietnamese iced coffee (I like mine very strong and flavorful), unfortunately here it was watery and lacked flavor- I did not even finish mine. The service was pretty quick however, they initially only brought out my coffee so we had to ask for another (despite having ordered two); additionally, my BF ordered an XL pho which turned out to just be a large (I realized this upon seeing bigger pho bowls as we were leaving). Maybe ordering the wrong dish gave me a bad first impression, but if I were to ever return, I would only order pho.
(3)
Marshall D.
Average at best. Very salty. Asked for extra spicy and they brought dressing on side.
(3)
Juliana K.
My parents always make us go here when they are in down. The pho here is great. Everything comes out quickly. Pretty typical Chinese/Thai restaurant, but the food quality is definitely a bit better than the other chinatown places.
(5)
Nazee Z.
Came here feeling sickly and wanting some pho, and got exactly that. Went come and for some reason developed a fever. Weird. I tried the pho with beef balls and raw meat. I was curious about the beef balls but they were general meatball things sliced from a sausage looking thing. Yea, not sure what it was so I don't know if I would recommend it, but it was tasty. Pho was pretty good, but to me, pho is how you doctor it not how it comes to you. Came pretty tasty so that's cool. Service was pretty good, water was constantly flowing as were napkins (so necessary with pho). But I think we had like 3 waiters at a time so it was difficult to figure out who to ask for things. I was a little bummed when I asked for a thai bubble tea at the end and didn't end up getting it. But the whole dinner for two was $13. I'll def come again. On the other hand, I've been here before (about a yr ago) and got noodles and other delicious foods and found myself suuuuuuuper satisified. I'd still try again despite the weird, but tasty beef balls o.O
(4)
Brian K.
Stopped in for lunch today with a friend. The service was fast and friendly enough and the ambiance purely noodle house, which I like. We opened with a shrimp roll for an appetizer. It came with the peanut sauce and it was refreshing and tasty. My companion, ordered a clam soup, which she enjoyed thoroughly. I ordered the Bun Bo Hue, which I was a little disappointed with. The broth was a little bland and lack that kick that a good bun bo hue broth should have. The prices were very reasonable, and because of that alone, it would be worth a try. I am sure my companion would give it four stars, but because my main course was no better than average, I am resigned to give it 3. Give it try. It is solid noodle house that will more than take care of your lunch or dinner needs.
(3)
Susannah M.
Upon entering, this hole in the wall restaurant smelled so good. The guy behind the counter was the sweetest, talking to us and giving us recommendations as we waited for a table. It was packed and with good reason. I ordered the pork bun-301 and it was probably the best decision I made all day. The pork was a bit fattier then I am used to but still absolutely delicious. The egg roll was not as greasy as typical and was deliciously flaky. My coworker got the chicken pho and LOVED it. I have a feeling this is our new Thai spot. Plus it is super cheap. Go here if you eat food.
(5)
Shereen C.
I've since tried other dishes at Pho Xe Lua so I'm updating my review. Filet Mignon with lemongrass is still tasty. Pho is good, comforting. Appetizer with raw beef slices is solid. Fish dish was not as good. Tofu with vegetables was uninspired -- I'd avoid ordering this in the future. For $5, the mixed drinks were solid. Quite good for the price.
(4)
Frank K.
After over a week in Chinatown, we finally made it to Pho Xe Lua and it was worth it. We had traditional Pad Thai along with a dish of mixed veggies, tofu and bean sprouts and it was more than filling. And tasty. I have to say that even though Pad Thai may be the beginner's Thai dish, it was delicious here, one of the best I've had. Shrimp were plentiful, plump, and perfectly cooked. Beers were incredibly inexpensive for a wide selection of bottles. Service was efficient and friendly. Also helpful. We walked in early on a Saturday night when most of the other restaurants on the street were almost empty. Pho Xe Lua was almost full on both floors--now I understand why.
(4)
Andrew H.
Delicious and affordable! I threw down a pho Xe Lua sac biet for only 7.fitty! The soup broth was nice and sweet without being... Sweet. Its not like many places I go to where an XL is just a medium in a huge bowl. They loaded it up with meat, tripe, tendons and all the good stuff. This will be my goto spot for the winter.
(5)
Johnny L.
I think the food there is pretty average but it is cheap so I don't mind. And it's pretty tight in there, barely any space to get up
(3)
Rebecca G.
My friend and I came here for Pho yesterday. We started out our meals with a share of the spring rolls, which were accompanied by a tasty peanut sauce, and proved the perfect appetizer! We then continued with bowls of the seafood and special pho, respectively, and both hit the spot. From the broth to the noodles, they were among the best bowls of pho that we have had. Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai is definitely as good as it gets!
(5)
Vivian T.
Lets start w/ very great price... appetizer, 2 main dishes, 2 beverages ll for $44 which includes tip ... tasty and well worth it for 2 people The Pho you can skip on b/c the broth is weak... but try 212 - chicken lemon grass and white rice and the pad thai .... bangin' Also, please please please get the vietnamese coffee dripped (hot or cold), a must have here along w. the beef carpacio bathing in lime juice and friend onions and fish sauce. For a fast in and out (40 mins top sit down venue), it gets a 4.5 stars minus 0.5 for the lack of ambience
(4)
Hali R.
My first time having Pho and I loved it! I had tequila sunrise, my boyfriend had a Thai Iced Tea. We both had #105 Pho and LOVED it. The service was fast, friendly, and we only paid $30 after tip :)
(5)
Nary K.
Always good food and fast service. It's all about the food here! If you want ambiance, this is not the place for you. My favorite go to dish is shrimp with lemongrass or the seafood pho. You can't go wrong. One more thing....very very very affordable! You can have a meal for two for about $25
(5)
stephanie x.
I really like this place. The food and service has always been consistently fast and friendly. There is a huge selection of food from Viet to Chinese. It's been a go-to place in Chinatown for me because I know I'll get reliable service and good food to fill me up at a very reasonable price. I have tried alot of dishes on their menu and they have all been very good!
(5)
Oli O.
we are tourists from Zurich Switzerland and eat a lot asian food. especially thai and vietnam. this place was world class and we enjoyed the food and service very much. we have very high standards and are hard to satisfy.
(5)
E I.
I LOVE their pho, but dislike the service. Stop rushing me to eat!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Matt H.
Don't be fooled by the spotty decor, this is the best Vietnamese food in Philadelphia.!!!!! I've been in love with the vietnamese cuisine for sometime now and can spot a fake by just smelling their fish sauce, and looking at the yellowish/ redish tint. The pho train gets it right on every mark. The food here is as authentic as can be. It is an absolute hidden gem!!!!!
(5)
Shawn T.
I do love the pho here as you get great portions to what you order and it is healthy for you. Only issue is parking in china town... urggghhh....
(4)
Phoebe S.
The raw beef (marinated in line juice and served with dry/fried onions, peanuts, basil and fish sauce) is one of my favorite dishes EVER. And I know spring rolls taste the same (if delicious) everywhere, but theirs are really something else. Pho is good/fine, I've had better, and same with the salty dry fried shrimp with head (well cooked, but a bit bland last time I had them). The grape leaves are excellent. Good, friendly no nonsense service, pretty cheap Chinatown prices.
(5)
Joe C.
holy pho bang, batman this place is disgustingly addicting. the pho was amazing, the noodle was almost perfect and the broth is MSG free goodness. i love this place with a passion...too bad i don't live around here or i'd be here all the time. I LOVE IT!
(3)
BrasilPo P.
This has got to be one of the best bowls of PHO I've had in the last two years living here in the East Coast. If you like tendon --- these folks give you the most TENDER parts. There is HOPE folks...
(5)
Jenn H. H.
best and biggest pho in the area. also has excellent rice flake dishes and ho fun. your food comes out furiously fast (almost too fast) and prices are cheap, cheap, cheap. there's no atmosphere and you are squeezed into your tables. they cram everyone in here to the gills. i always see them blendering yummy looking drinks. i would eat here every day if i could.
(5)
C K.
Cheap, and Good. Not the best Pho I've had, but its good. The portions are huge.
(4)
jason t.
i didn't notice any thai dishes on the menu, but whatever. i got the flank 'n' tripe pho...the meat was good, but the broth was much too subtly spiced for my taste, i had to dump a bunch of sriracha and hoisin in there just to give it some flavor. i can't argue with the portion size though, i got the "large" (rather than the "extra large") and i'm still full seven hours later.
(3)
Anna Y.
i haven't been to this place in about a year, but i still dream about their raw flank steak appetizer. and their pho, rice dishes and other noodle dishes ain't so bad either.
(5)
Donna L.
This is my favorite restaurant of all times. Throughout the years I've been coming here, I never once had a bad meal. Pho Xue Lua Restaurant (nicknamed Choo Choo's) is a really popular restaurant for students (elementary/high school/college). Their portions are large for a really small price. The atmosphere is loud and can be very crowded, but then which Chinatown restaurant isn't? My all time favorite would be either the 1. grilled chicken and pork chop over broken rice (I love the sweet & sour sauce that comes with it) 2. pho or 3. the curry chicken and potato rice. Of course, I finished off with a rainbow ice. Which they list as a drink, but the red beans, mung beans, and little jello strips in a cold sweet coconut milk seems more of a dessert to me. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for a formal dinner or a 1st date, this seems more like a quick meal during a lunch break or a shopping spree.
(5)
Sharon C.
This review is strictly for PHO only. I can't even conceive of ordering anything else from this venue, so please go on to the next review if you are interested in anything other than pho. The only five star pho review I will ever give in the east coast. I know, because I've been eating pho EVERYWHERE they have it in the east coast and the west coast (AND Vietnam, I might add) for the last 12 glorious years. Pho is my last meal item. I love it that much. But I'm fiendishly picky about every component of this dish. I'm not a true carnivore, and as such, do away with the funny bits of cow (I have no problems with them flavoring my broth with it, but I don't care to chew them, thank you very much), and typically go for Pho Tai. So starting with the meat...this needs to be RAW, sliced THIN, and a bit on the glistening-bloody side. The broth, therefore, needs to be piping hot so that as soon as you flip the meat underneath the mass of rice noodles, it cooks instantly. The rice noodle, since it'll be plunged into the hot broth, cannot be overcooked. They need to be JUST barely pliable, so that it finishes cooking in the broth and becomes slurp-worthy. Broth, aside from the temperature, is truly the soul of the dish. I cannot abide by any broth that has little blobs of grease floating on top. That's an individual preference, I suppose, but I think it tastes so much cleaner and deeper without the floating grease. Xe Lua gets as close to it as I've seen, though a total elimination isn't possible--after all, it's not consomme we're consuming here. Last, but not least, are the herbs, lime, and sauce. Don't skimp on my basil leaves and dandelion leaves. I cannot, simply cannot, believe people who leave any of these herbs out of their pho! I get an insane urge to grab them off their plate when I see this. This is what perfumes the broth and elevates pho to the "Oh my god I just died and went to culinary heaven" level. Also, no lemon. It MUST be lime. Again, Xe Lua does it right. In my 12 years, I think they served lemon ONCE. It shook my phaith (sorry) to the very core, but that has been a few years and they have rectified their cheapskate ways since then. If you have not had pho ever, I think you would do yourself a great kindness by introducing yourself to it here. This was my first, and still the best, pho experience in all of east coast.
(5)
Dana M.
My boyfriend and I LOVE this place. We have be eating here for years. The staff is asian and friendly, they recognize us now. We always get an order of spring rolls and two bowls of beef pho and avocado shakes. The plate of fixin's for the pho and the sauces on the table a perfect. We always get an iced Vietnamese coffee and a Thai Tea with bubbles to go. I always want to try other dishes but the pho is so good I can never pass it up. The only slight downside is that the quality of the meat varies at times. Sometime very lean, sometimes a little chewy. (But I'm picky with beef and hate fatty meat so I have issues with it almost everywhere.)
(5)
Kristin W.
This has become mine and my boyfriend's favorite cheap place to go on a Sunday evening. I usually just get the same thing (veggie pad thai). He mixes it up quite a bit and has liked everything he's tried. His go to meal is chicken curry which I have to say smells amazing even though I am a vegetarian. I would give this place 5 stars however our last trip the beers we ordered were skunked, but even if that never happened I wouldn't give it 5 stars because the fish tanks freak me out and I can only sit in there if my back faces them. Two beers, two entrees, $20.40! Bam!
(4)
Perry M.
This is becoming a regular for me on my trips to Philly. Taking a cue from fellow Yelpers, I had the beef carpaccio and Beef "Frank" ([sic]...that's really the way it appears on the menu) and tendon pho. I loaded it up with the herbs and a couple of jalapeno slices. There were several more slices provided, and looking back, I should've added one or two more jalapenos. Mental note to self: spice it up a little on the next trip. Still, it was tasty and very filling. The star of the meal was the iced coffee. Before you die, you have just GOT to try this stuff. Made at your table, a container of super strong espresso is set atop a glass, where the contents drip down onto a layer of waiting condensed milk. Stir it up, and pour the chocolatey brown mixture over ice. Starbucks had better hope that this stuff doesn't find it's way out of Philly Chinatown, because if it does, the green and white is in some serious trouble. The service was friendly and prompt. With the dinner I described above and a 20% tip, the bill came to $23 (which, when I think about it, is about the price of Starbucks bar drink these days.)
(5)
Neels K.
Yummm... cheapest and the best thai/veitnamese! Dingy little place in china town... but the best pad thai I ever had! Loved it, loved it, loved it! Do not go here for the presentation or service... just the food. Pho was pretty good to. Lychee iced tea was really good. Surprisingly had the worst Thai Iced tea. I am going back there again!
(4)
Daniel T.
I'm used to being served pho quickly without any intervention in regards to waiter-service. That's fine, I know what I'm doing with this pile of immersed food. Just hand me my bowl and I'll take care of myself, no need to ask me how my meal was or how I'm doing. However, I do always want a glass of never ending ice-water as soon as I take a seat. Pho's a long, hot, and salty journey and I'd like to make it through. Most places you have to ask for ice water and ask again once it's empty. That's why I like Pho Xe Lua, you get the water and they'll leave you alone otherwise. Pho here is above average, the noodles have some resiliency to the bite and the broth is aromatic. And when you ask for tripe, they really give it to you. Man, I love tripe. I've also had the bun bo hue, a spicy Central-Vietnamese bowl of soup. It was on-point. Reddish, hot oil slicked surfaced and out of this world lemongrass-spicy notes. Chopped pigs feet (which is key to the dish). Don't be scurred by that, I think everyone should try out bun bo hue if you like pho. I don't think the soup is getting its just due being overshadowed by its monolithic northern brethren. So if you would like to try bun bo hue, go here first to give it a proper start. There's also live tanks filled with lobsters, dungeness crabs, fish and such. I wonder if I can get seafood pho and have them dunk a lobster in my bowl. Mmm... opulence.
(5)
Morgan G.
For what it is, I can't give "Choo Choo" anything but 5 stars. It is certainly borderline hole-in-the-wall, but it is cheap and so good! I am always overwhelmed with what to order (and usually make my friend order the appetizers), but this place is amazing. The portions are huge, and every single thing I have eaten has been delicious (especially the pad thai) and the raw beef dish appetizer. On my list visit, four of us shared four appetizers and each had our own entree, and we paid about $15 each. Definitely check this place out!
(5)
German S.
One of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants...i kinda mixed it up today..i had fried rice noodles and seafood, ladys and gents...let me tell you it was the bombs yo! I also had a mango smoothie different fir me since I always get the ice coofee. I have no complaints about the service, like always fast and friend.
(4)
Stace C.
I was really excited to try Pho in Philly since NY pretty much has a very disappointing if nonexistent Pho culture. Being that I'm from Cali, I've been spoiled and used to the amazing Pho broth. Maybe I'm asking for too much to have the same wonderful Cali Pho broth in the East Coast but Pho Xu Lua Viet Thai was a big let down. Their XL portion is huge, with a ton of meat which is a plus but the broth just didn't cut it for me. I also tried their rice plate and thought the pork chop was pretty decent, but the steam egg wasn't.
(3)
Michelle Y.
I live in centre city with no cars and no desire to take the bus anywhere to get pho. So in my area, this is my go to place for pho. Sure, i've had better pho at other places, but the best one in chinatown and in the area is hands down this place. I usually get some variation of pho or the spring rolls and vermicelli with pork. And we usually get the shrimp rolls to share. It's weird they put mint in the shrimp rolls i don't like the taste necessarily, but i usually just take it out as i'm eating it... sometimes the pho has great texture noodles, perfecty chewy and just the right amount of stickiness. but sometimes, its just OK. The vermicelli tastes good but someimtes the spring rolls are a little too hard. The pork is always on point though. Service is great! They are always attentive and fast. So I never get annoyed dining here. Not always the most pleasant place to eat especially during busy hours and downstairs, but i always left here content and satisfied!
(4)
Lin X.
Best bargain restaurant in town!!! Everything is so cheap but soooooooo good. After 3 years trying, nothing on the menu failed me so far. Pad thai w/shrimp and beef chow fun are my favorite.
(5)
Kristen S.
Went here last night with a group of 8 friends not expecting them to have room to fit us all right away considering the place isn't very large. We were immediately sat by a friendly waiter and we all ordered a round of drinks which were extremely cheap yet satisfying. I started off with the vegetarian spring rolls which came out quickly and were hot, steamy, and delicious! Shortly thereafter, the large Pho Ga (pho with chicken) came out. The portion was more than enough for me, but it was hearty and delicious and exactly what I needed/wanted. Whoever said that chicken noodle soup was good for the soul obviously hasn't tried pho. I'm definitely coming back here soon. Great location, great food, great staff!
(4)
Jasi B.
Yo son...I hate that I know live in surburbia. And I'm not too much a fan of Philly. But I think that might get better if I finally take the time to try out the food. Avocado smoothie? Oh why not? I can order one of everything on the menu and still only pay $15....oh yes please. I'm not the biggest fan of Pho but I was feeling adventurous. Don't ask which Pho I had....something with beef, lol. But that avocado smoothie? Yes ma'am and sir. It was the definitive highlight of the meal.
(4)
Dave H.
This is a local favorite and one of mine! A wide variety of dishes are available to order. Service is fine. Waitstaff don't usually win points for being particularly friendly or welcoming but they come by and fill your water glasses and bring out food without any problems. I've ordered a bunch of dishes in the past: - The escargot was excellent. We ordered two kinds: one with peppers and lemongrass, the other with a coconut sauce! - Crab soup ($11 for a large bowl for sharing) was bland. - Tangy curry chicken with lemon grass ($7), recommended. - Vermicelli with grilled pork and a spring roll ($5), very good. - Miniature lamb chops ($10), delicious! The filet mignon in a lemon grass sauce ($11) was a spicy treat. Prices are reasonable, not atypical for a Chinatown restaurant. The check came quickly when it was time to go. Avoid the soup and the phad thai (it's nothing to write home about, try Siam Cuisine down the street instead). Recommended!
(4)
David L.
Cheap, fast, and delicious viet fare. This place never disappoints.
(4)
Michael X.
Really yummy and cheap food! All kinds of pho, vermicelli, shrimp rolls and more for around $5-6. Did I mention that the portions are enormous? Somehow you could never finish the portions. Someone mentioned pho number 106 and that's what I always get! Plenty of different sauces on the side to spice up your food! The service can be a little better though, efficient but not as friendly. My friend took a while to decide what to order and the waiter did not look too happy. Place has two stories, and there was a short line on a Saturday evening. Definitely the place to get authentic and cheap vietnamese food in Chinatown!
(4)
Joshua J.
I love this place! Generally since Pho Ha is a little closer, and I tend to like their food a bit more, I go there, but if I'm in Chinatown, this is it. A little too loud, but you can tell people are having a real good time. Service here can be a little off at times, but it helps if you have a friend that speaks the language. The one thing I will say is that it's probably the cheapest most fulfilling meal you can get in Chinatown. I've left here having spent less than 15 dollars for two people with drinks.
(5)
Stacie L.
Absolutely love going there. Service is okay depending on how much people is there. Usually I go and it's pretty busy so I am kinda okay with their service. Their pho are I think the best in Chinatown. The food comes out pretty quickly so theres not much wait. Their smallest bowl is a large bowl so I do recommend going when you can finish it all so you dont waste the food. :] Prices are cheap, the large bowl is like 5.50. & it's from Chinatown?! #fellinlove lol. Their bubble drinks are cool too and they always put it take-out drinking containers and not in those glasses so you do not feel like you have to rush the drink and actually enjoy the goodness.
(5)
Vicki P.
the food is great. the staff is not so friendly. and i also didnt like seeing dead fish in their tank.
(2)
Helen Z.
I've been coming here since I was a kid. It's def my go to place when I want something cheap and quick in chinatown. The food is ok..your average vietnamese fair. They have a pretty extensive menu, much more to offer than some of the other vietnamese restaurants in Chinatown. I've tried many items on their menu, but I tend to just order their beef & tendon pho. The broth is pretty tasty and the tendon is always tender. The raw beef (beef carpaccio) is also one of my favorite things here. Service kinda sucks, but bearable, its def gotten better over the years.
(3)
John S.
came back and got the snails in coconut and basil......soooooOOO gOOd! as usual pho was amazing......gona get a large instead of an XL next time i was wayyy to full
(5)
Bill M.
Climb aboard the Phooooo Train! With the Pho train you pretty much get what you pay for. The Pho definitely isn't the best that you'll find. But it's inexpensive enough to make it just above sub par. and you can't go wrong with the fact that it hooks up cheap drinks with frilly umbrellas (or can you?). It does dish out an interesting assortment of milkshakes (jackfruit!). And it hooks up a great assortment of soups and pad Thai's. But there are just factors like service, and consistent quality that makes it just fall short of being one of the the better Pho institutions of Philly.
(3)
Bang T.
Choo Choo's!!! seriously one of the best Vietnamese places in Chinatown. i love their food and theres just so many that i want to list. writing this review is making me hungry... this was always the hangout spot for me and my friends since forever. i highly recommend it.
(4)
Carlin Y.
The only real name for this place is "ChooChoos" -- in reference to the neon sign of a choochoo train on the front window -- and I fell in love with this place. Super cheap, super tasty, super fast Vietnamese pho in Chinatown. I try to make a pitstop here whenever I'm in the area. There's better somewhere in the nether-regions of Philly, but if you don't have the luxury to travel out to Little Saigon / Viettown, totally hit this place up if you need a nice warm bowl of noodles and soup!
(5)
Woo K.
Known as "choo-choo", this restaurant is always busy and still manages to pump out quality food without making you wait very long. The wait staff is VERY helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. Portions are generous and the food is absolutely delicious. This is one of my favorites.
(4)
Athena Y.
Delicious, fast, my go to pho place. My girlfriend and I go at least once a week. at 7 bucks for a huge bowl, it's the best deal a college kid can get
(5)
Eric H.
Vermincelli bowl and the Pho! YUM YUM YUM YUM! Top 3 favorite Pho places.
(4)
Khanh D.
I was staying with my brother in Chinatown and was craving some "bun bo hue". I did a search on yelp and this was the closes place and seeing the four stars, I was stoked! I didn't want to eat there so I called and ordered it to go. I should have hung up realizing this place was not legit when they didn't know what "bun bo hue" was from me speaking it. Despite my better judgment I went to pick it up and it was gross. There was no lemongrass smell to it (the foundation to this soup) at all. It seems like they used the pho broth and just poured it over a different kind of vermicelli and called it "bun bo hue".
(1)
B B.
I like Pho. This is the best Pho I've had. It is most likely the best Pho I will ever have. It's probably the best Pho you will ever have. If you ever have better Pho elsewhere, let me know. Because, as I wrote, I like Pho.
(5)
Adam P.
I have this place on speed dial. They produce affordably priced, delicious meals. Prices are the same for lunch and dinner, so it is great if you want a dinner that costs $5-7. Here are some of my favorites from over the years: -Lemon grass chicken over rice -Curry chicken over rice -Beef with bell pepper over rice -Chicken vermicelli -Chicken pho Ah, the memories. The place offers efficient service, piping hot food, and complementary tea (for dining in) during the winter time. The interior is nothing fancy, but it is the perfect place to go for a casual meal. If it gets packed, they open an upstairs seating area to relieve some of the pressure.
(5)
Nham D.
I've been here twice. Ordered Pho and Bun Bo Hue for 2 times. Both were unbelievably bad. The Pho soup was really plain, my friend had Bo Kho and she said it was not any better. Today we decided to give it a second try. However, it was worse than the first time. The meat of the Bun Bo Hue was rotten, making the whole thing smell. It was just terrible. I can't imagine how one can set up a restaurant with such low quality food. I'm from VN and I lived in California for 4 years so my taste can't be wrong. They just don't know how to make Vietnamese food. Can't deny it's cheap but feel like it doesnt worth a penny. Swear to myself to never go there again. There are some good places on Washington street. If you're looking for real and good vietnamese food stay away from this place!!!!!!
(1)
Jan K.
A lot of bang for the buck. I don't know that anything was EXCEPTIONAL (though my 15-year-old daughter exclaimed the [not on the menu] Chicken Pad Thai the best she'd ever had.) They did have SHRIMP Pad Thai, but the waiter (all spoke more than adequate English) gladly accommodated her request. Entrees would accommodate any tastes, from vegetarian to snail and frog fans. Veal ribs, pork chops, curries and noodle / rice / vermicelli dishes were all possibilities. Apps (Crispy Spring Rolls and cold shredded pork rolls) came quickly along with dipping sauces and daikon/cucke/carrot. ) My son's beef satay soup was ENORMOUS. Other entrees (Crispy fried fish w/ Thai sauce ) BBQ beef/ pork w/ Vermicelli were each more than enough for a single person. Two apps, and five entrees came in under $45.00. Dishes came a little spaced out, but over all service was pleasant and polite. Place was PACKED on a Sunday at Noon with local Orientals. Cheap parking down the street at 8 bucks for two hours beat the gouging lots hiking up for every Convention Center event. They even gave $1.50 off the parking. Bottom line, is they serve very good examples of standard Vietnamese and Thai dishes (over 600 items on the menu) in huge portions, where an average entree is under 10 bucks (and many huge noodle / soups are around 6. You can stuff yourself with some pretty pleasantly seasoned dishes made with good fresh ingredients on the cheap. Don't expect a sommelier to fawn on you, but they do have a variety of nice Oriental beers that compliment the dishes well.
(4)
Jenny M.
Choo Choo's! I've called it this since the beginning of time, never really reading the sign out front... called 411 for the phone number and I swore to the operator the name of the restaurant was Choo Choo's. lol. Anyway, I have many a fond college memory coming here. It's right on the edge of Chinatown, and absolutely lovely food to warm yourself up with when it is freezing outside! The Pho is amazing! For $6, you can get a small (really gigantic) bowl of Pho to enjoy... The Shrimp Pad Thai is delish as well. I often have trouble deciding between the two. One of my friends just gets the fried rice because it's so good. More often than not, I order Pho to eat there, and order Shrimp Pad Thai to go and I'll eat it at home for dinner. :) The restaurant is pretty small, and always busy. It is great for large parties too, and the service is really good. There's this head guy in charge who I think pretends to not recognize me, lol (I've been coming here for 8+ years!). He's very efficient and makes things run smoothly. I miss living in Philly more for this place than for the cheesesteaks, definitely. Sometime over the years I've even gotten my Dad to love this place as much as I do, and he always calls me when he's eating here just to piss me off. I love you Choo Choo's! p.s. parking sucks. avoid it if you can!
(5)
Bianca L.
I had the pho with beef, tendon, and tripe (#107) in the large size (as opposed to xl) for $5.95. I also had a martini for $4.95. The broth was incredible and the beef and tendon pieces were large and plentiful. It was absolutely delicious and such a great comfort food for what was a bad day for me. It arrived in less than 5 minutes too. I will definitely be back. Delicious, super fast service, and inexpensive. What more can you ask? I have a new favorite place for pho.
(5)
Lissette J.
The train is the bomb! Food is always fresh, quick, and fabulous. A place to go!!!
(5)
Caroline D.
OK, this has been one of my favorite places in Philadelphia since I moved here almost 10 years ago. I don't think anything has changed except the lovely LCD monitors picturing a slideshow of food offerings. The pho is always good, and though I am not an expert food critic, I am told it is the best around. We get the pad thai, which is a little dry but good nonetheless. Fresh and fried spring rolls are good. I just discovered the vermicelli with spring roll combo and it is really light and delicious. We always get the avocado shake with tapioca which is delish but be careful not to fill up before your food arrives!
(5)
francis d.
Really big bowl and they give you an abundance of meat. The broth holds it's own.
(4)
Amanda L.
Very affordable, gives big portions, i love going there. the only con is that Mexicans that work there are constantly staring at you while you are trying to enjoy your meal.
(4)
Melissa J.
Cheap, fast service, good food. What more could you ask for? I came in on a weekend night with two girlfriends and we were seated immediately. You receive complimentary hot tea for the table, and it's pretty delish. We ordered spring rolls and three bowls of pho. Everything came up super quick. You need only look in the direction of your server and he is at your table, reading your mind, and already doing what you are about to ask. I ordered a large bowl of chicken. The large is pretty big and that is the smallest size. I ate maybe 1/4 of my bowl. The 1/4 I ate was very flavorful and steaming hot! I am always a fan of the "add your own" sprouts, basil, and jalapeno plate that comes on the side. Our grand total for all of that was about $30 with tip! Will definitely be back.
(4)
Sarah H.
fresh. coconut. drink. it's two bucks & includes fresh coconut slices. you will not regret this.
(4)
Christopher R.
One day on gchat,my friend is asking me to meet her in Chinatown for something called "pho." I look it up on Wikipedia. That sounds kinda strange, I tell her, and politely decline. I add the fact that I am a vegetarian, that a vegetarian option is not necessarily available and, even if, that seems like it would undermine the charm of the dish. She redoubles her effort. She says she will beat me up while her boyfriend watches and laughs at my helpless pleas for mercy. I give in, suspecting that she is not joking. We arrive at "Choo-Choo Pho" and she raises both arms in triumph, her childlike glee forming a chilling contrast to the menace that lurks within. She demands I try the weird kind, with the beef stomach and other alarming cuts of beef. I'm a vegetarian, I plead once again. Too bad, she says as she stares me down, leaving me no choice but to break with my ethics. The giant steaming bowl of noodles, fragrant broth and aesthetically unpleasant meats arrive. I am ordered to garnish like so. Reluctantly, I take my first bite. It is delicious, the beginning of of an epic love affair with this Vietnamese soup. It shows on my face. I knew it!, she cackles, triumphant.
(4)
Ethan T.
There's always "that place" everyone goes to growing up as an established point of socialization. I found this place in high school and everything has been good and consistent. The name actually means "pho train" which is what they're known for. But unlike the other pho spots that dedicate themselves to just pho and a few rice dishes , this place has it all. It tends to get packed at times and you'll get quick and efficient Chinatown service, but this is a great lunch a dinner spot
(4)
Cuong D.
I rate this place a full 5 stars. If you love Vietnamese food this is the place to go. It's the best place to go on a budget. They make the "best" avacado shake. I tried many different places and Pho Xe Lua makes the best shake there is. Their xtra large Pho is truely Xtra Large. if you really wanna go cheap you can buy one xtra large and split it with you and your friend. LOL. I am sure that is frowned upon.
(5)
Debbie N.
Ok, so I pretty much stopped coming back here after the above experience. However, I came back here when I was hungry in Chinatown and craving for some pho. Thinking I was in safe territory with Vietnamese food, I ordered a bowl of pho tai bo vien. The soup tasted and looked like chicken soup. Maybe I'm a pho-snob, but in my house, beef pho and chicken soup have no resemblance. All in all, I would not recommend this place for either Vietnamese or Thai food.
(1)
Anthony W.
I was claustrophobic in this place. They seated me RIGHT BY THE DOOR! There's several people coming in an out at any moment. I mean damn it was busy. Had I ordered pho like I started it would've felt like eating in a bus depot. Like I want a constant stream of debris being kicked up in my food from outside every time that door opens I'm a bit of a germophobe. Not to mention the mofos at the next table were smellin RIPE! I couldn't deal. I couldn't hang. I didn't even smell any food. I would've lit a match if I had one. So i switched sides of the table. While I looked over the menu they brought out a glass of water and I have all these damn people standing around me. I was curious about the avocado milkshake so I ordered that to go. And the second I stood up they put somebody else at my table. I didn't even get a chance push my chair in. It reminded me of mid-90's MickeyD's on Canal St. with the gypsies. I ain't tryna be rude dude just GIVE A PATRON SOME SPACE! I didn't even have room to think about what I wanted. In fair disclosure, this was during the Chinatown Block Party. Maybe the crowds were bigger than usual. Ok so about the milkshake... I didn't know what to expect. It was interesting, not bad at all. I just wished it was a little sweeter. Also, the cup it came in was pretty cool, but not cool enough to get me back in here.
(2)
TJ H.
Known to the locals simply as Choo Choo, because Xe Lua translate to train in Vietnamese and there is a neon sign of a train on the front window, Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants for a college student on a budget in Philadelphia. The pho itself isn't the absolute best pho but it is pretty good. As well as their numerous other dishes. Spring rolls and egg rolls are big, fresh, and delicious. The bean sprouts and basil that come with pho and some other broth dishes can be a bit spotted but in general it's still good. I've tried many dishes in this restaurant and most are on a scale of 3.5/5.0 to 5.0/5.0 stars for me. And with the prices so reasonable you can afford to try different dishes. There of course are always some more expensive dishes offered, but they are not excessive. They also offer family style meal options which are also delicious. Some of my staples: Pho Dac Biet (House Special Pho) Hu Tieu Do Bien Thai Lan (Tom Yum Seafood Soup) Com Xao Bo Xa Ot (Lemongrass Beef with broken rice) Com Suong (Pork Chop with broken rice) One quick note: $15 minimum for charge. Happy eating!
(5)
Niyant S.
This is my spot in Chinatown! I go here a few times a month, and while I haven't explored many of the vast options on their menu, I can say for sure that the food is all superb. In particular, I love ordering their Pho in the wintertime: it's cheap, tasty, and you get 2-3 meals out of it. For most people that know the place, it is actually referred to as the "Cho Cho Train" restaurant, fyi.
(5)
Annie M.
The pho place I keep coming back to :) They are quick, soup is good and not too fatty, and meat is decent. The portion size is just right, and the XL bowl is HUGE. I've also tried the vermicelli bowl, which I must say I was pretty satisfied with. I got the combo which basically had every meat possible in there and all were good. My fave being the shrimp on sugarcane. They also do not skimp on the meat! I had soo much left over meat vs noodle ratio that I ended up bringing a lot of it home to make some extra vermicelli. Their fish sauce tasted good also.
(4)
Shay K.
#117. Order it. Pho with white meat chicken and bean thread noodles. This is just delectable. The broth is always flavorful, the meat tender, more than enough bean sprouts, lime and vietnamese basil (i think is the herb served with it). The noodles are quite good, clear because they are bean thread noodles. One of the best pho options in Philly. My friends have ordered vermicelli with all kinds of interesting things in it (shrimp, pork, sugar cane etc) and have loved it. This was my first Pho experience, maybe that is why I keep going back to it even after having been with many other Pho places. But I just can't resist the temptation of xe lua. it's just...so... good. p.s. the place is lit with fluorescent lights and is far from impressive. Do not let that deceive you! it is very clean, has a verified inspection and everything. cheap prices may mean a less than gorgeous venue. I'm okay with that.
(3)
Hoa T.
This is the place that I always try to get people to come to for pho in Chinatown. The bowl is gigantic. The amount of meat that they put in there will make your head spin and will satisfy your inner caveman. The broth is clear and flavorful as all good pho should be. Other food here are good too. However it is unfortunate that my other favorite noodle soup dish, bun bo hue, is so mediocre here or this place would have warranted a five star.
(4)
Ramen F.
Ambiance: Not much to speak of. The renovations might have more of a positive effect if the place was not always packed with people and noisy. Clean and typical. Food: The food is always priced well and you know that you are going to be more than full walking out of here. The types of dishes have a huge range (just look at the enormous menu). I personally do not like Pho as much as Chinese Hand Drawn Noodles, but my friends love the Pho here. Popular dishes like green curry chicken, lemon grass chicken, beef ho fun, papaya salad, and raw beef never disappoint. This is not a gourmet foodie place - this is a comfort/classic food place for people who grew up on this stuff (or at least wish they did). Service: The service is good and very typical of an Asian restaurant. The servers are not going to fawn all over you or constantly check in. But when you do flag them down for something, they will always follow up on your request fully and quickly. Overall: I definitely like this place for its consistency, the food , and the price. I often crave food from here and it always coincidentally happens on a Wednesday (the day that they are closed).
(4)
Daniel G.
Delicious and cheap, my friends and I all know this place as "The choo choo train restaurant." I was first introduced to this place by my chinese (now ex) girlfriend and her family a few years ago, and it has since become my favorite destination for inexpensive asian cuisine. The restaurant isn't especially well lit, or even impeccably clean for that matter - but I love it regardless of it's lack of ambience. The food is that good! BTW - Is there a proper way to eat shrimp paste wrapped around sugar cane? I've just been eating it like a drumstick.... but I always hide a little when I do, and feel like a tourist in my own city.
(5)
Vick C.
Noodles are eatable, but not good enough to get more stars. I ordered beef Pho and beef was overcooked, soup base not favor enough, its cheap and serve with big bowl, just not that impressed of their food a lot. Restaurant have two floors, very old style atmosphere, I've experienced a better one in Chicago.
(2)
Ponn Mai K.
I think that this place is over rated. The Pho is really cheap and you do get a lot for your money but this is about the taste. The taste is decent and it's all that bad. The broth was a tad tasteless, I believe it's due to all of the noodle that they toss into the bowl. If they were to make the bowl a bit smaller, and focus on the taste rather than the sizes, it would taste a bit better. The spring rolls is a spring roll. I don't care if the waiter tells me it's not a "shrimp roll" haha Spring rolls are not fried, those are egg rolls! The service is not all that great but then again, this is about the taste of the food. If you're looking to cheap Pho, this is the place to go because you get a large amount of decent food for a pretty good deal.
(3)
D Y.
bbq beef, shredded pork, and steam egg over rice. it was really tasty and very reasonably priced. a busy restaurant with reasonable prices and tasty food. can't beat that.
(4)
Belinda B.
Oh my gosh I want to move to Philadelphia just to eat here every night. For the prices, we probably could eat here every night and not break the bank. I had the regular beef pho - it was the best I've ever had and incredibly fresh. My husband had the pad thai, and wow, it was perfect. Not too sweet, perfect texture, fresh and hot. Oh, and the portions are huge. If you're coming from out of town, make sure your hotel room has a mini fridge!
(5)
Jing G.
Came yesterday with my boyfriend and 2 friends and I left somewhat disappointed. I ordered some green mussel appetizer and a bowl of vegetable noodle soup. The mussel appetizer came out and it was dry and overcooked. You could clearly tell that they mussels were simply steamed and then had a chili-tomato sauce poured over it. Unflavorful and dry. The noodle soup I had specified to be vegetarian, but yet it still came out in a beef broth. It wasn't until we spoke to somebody higher-up (the servers are hispanic and don't seem to understand English) came out and offered to remake it. I said that it was alright, they didn't have to, but the boyfriend insisted on it. So they made me another one but it was just unflavorful and anyway, by that time everyone had finished eating.. at the very least, they do put a whole lot of vegetables on there unlike other vegetable noodle soups I've had elsewhere. Yet I guess in a noodle soup, it really is the broth that makes all the difference, and this one was simply just soy sauce in water (and that is what the chef said). I can understand if they don't specialize in vegetable noodle soup, but if you're going to offer it, at least make it decently. Otherwise, don't offer one.. Still, I do appreciate that the chef (or, whoever that was) remade it for me. It's the effort that counts, I guess. It was my first time here, and it wasn't the worst place I've gone to. It's just that everything else I sampled here off my boyfriend's order like the salt baked squid was just normal like any other place in Chinatown too. So, that coupled with a wrong order and an unappetizing starter gives it just 2 stars. I won't hurry to come back here anytime soon.
(2)
M M.
Good restaurant, no complaints. Crispy Thai chicken was good and so was the pho.
(3)
Joe D.
Xe Lua is not only my favorite Pho but one of my favorite restaurants. i love the papaya salad with beef jerky and the Xe Lua special Pho. it comes with plenty of beef and the tripe and tendon are always tender and delicious. their French press coffee with sweetened condensed milk is awesome but packs a caffeine punch. make sure to get an avocado shake in the to-go cup to bring with you as you check out the cool markets and boutiques in Chinatown.
(4)
Steve L.
Just keeps getting worse. Finally, done.
(1)
lena n.
I actually still love this place...probably because it's so dam cheap lol. However comparing food wise, it's not all that compared to other restaurants. Like their sweet and sour soup (either chicken fish or seafood) does not taste like Nam Phoung's soup (which is WAY better!). The Pad thai...taste nothing like the authentic pad thai...cuz they cook it with ketchup lol. However the BEST dishes thats most popular that I LOVE! is the raw beef - you def gotta try it with the viet sauce, its so goood! but only if you like raw stuff (aka sushi lover). The fried squid is THE BEST here! i love it! so crunchy and flavorful! lol Thai tea is yummy! Fast service too. there's plenty of them around lol. They have an upstairs and downstairs, but sometimes there's a wait if it gets too crowded. mostly on the weekends. And because of the small space, they usually sit you next to someone...moving the table about 2 inches away from yours..lol.. This is definitely the spot for good cheap food. :D
(4)
Mr. Met s.
3.5 STARS Very good Pho. Had the Beef and Beef ball, 108. Hearty soup base, barely any 'msg', fresh bean sprouts/basil leaves on the side. The beef ball is generic, found in market. The beef is ok sliced beef. Ok portion of noodles, big bowl of 'soup' base that is very drinkable. Good price at 5.50 However, the rice plates are so-so. Had the pork chop with rice, and fish cake. Came with 2 leaves of fresh lettuce. The rice was ur plain old rice, not even broken. The pork chop was kind of dry, and only came with one piece. The fish cake was not good at all. Mushy. The Viet coffee was pretty good, $2.
(3)
Chrissy R.
Oh pho train, I'm so MAD at you! My dining companion wanted pho but I didn't because i felt like it was too hot out for soup. I had some deluxe vermicelli and it was the nastiest thing I've ever eaten in my life. Gross enough to make me knock this place down a star. The noodles were overdone, and the fried chunks of meat on top just tasted disgusting. I like the pho here, but I'm not going here again unless it's for pho.
(2)
J G.
This is my favorite pho joint in Philadelphia. Everytime I come here, I order the Extra Large House Special Pho, which is only 6.75 and gives you tons of beef. The soup/broth they use is absolutely amazing, which leads to me suspect that it's laced with crack (but who cares?). And did I mention the Thai Iced Tea is only 1.50? Amazing. Unfortunately Choo Choo is being renovated until August 21st, but once it opens back up, I'm definitely going back.
(4)
Liz S.
I've been coming to this place for years. My Vietnamese college roommate introduced me to pho at this place circa 1996. And while the friendship has come and gone, my love of pho has only gotten stronger. This place is almost like a cafeteria. It's always packed, there's always a flow of people in and out, and the food comes out fast and hot. It's a little divey--but then again you're in Chinatown. If I walked into a swanky pho place in Chinatown, I would immediately walk out because that's not normal. The goi cuon is very good. The pho is above average (you can taste lots of star anise) but a touch on the too-salty side. The vermicelli dishes are average. Back when I was a Vietnamese food newbie, I would have unhesitatingly given this place 5 stars. But now that my Vietnamese palate has become a bit more sophisticated (thanks to the Denver, CO Vietnamese food scene--what UP Federal Boulevard woot woot!) this place gets 3 stars.
(3)
Jenn W.
I have been here couple of times, sits on corner, it was closed-temporarily, for remodeling, .My parents like It there. Their variety of Pho & soup dishes , amazing, actually too big...but nice assortment. The waitstaff & service is good, like the summer rolls, & soups are good, but of course, when its Hot out, not craving soup!! not just yet!!
(4)
J K.
My husband works near Chinatown and for ages I've been listening to him rave about the $5.95 bowl of seafood noodle soup he gets for lunch at the Viet-Thai restaurant every Friday. Finally got to test it out myself last weekend and it is just amazing! The soup comes in a big bowl and is served with a plate of bean sprouts, herbs and slices of lime. He puts all the stuff in the bowl and squeezes in the lime... eating is a bit of a challenge but it seemed best to use a combination of the spoon plus chopsticks for fishing out the noodles and fish. There was a variety of seafood in this dish, shrimp, squid, mussels and something that looked like slices of fish cake. While we tried some other things on the menu, I have to say this soup was the best thing we had! This place doesn't have much atmosphere, but hey, its cheap. Beer is $3 a bottle. This place is a bargain. Most of the people around us seemed to be ordering some kind of soup...probably the pho that I saw on the menu. I also saw quite a few people eating snails. They have some unusual stuff on the menu like frog legs. I'm sure we'll be back to try other things, but for now I'll recommend that seafood soup! (FYI the seafood soup is number 126 on the menu).
(4)
Phil T.
Deep inside my cynical heart is a little Choo Choo train full of pho. Pho Xe Lua, don't ever change.
(5)
Samantha M.
I learned I am the sign of a horse. Horses must be allowed to show their emotions. They are hotblooded, hot-tempered, and impatient,and they will gladly demonstrate. In love, Horses are quite vulnerable. They give up everything for the object of their affections. This causes them trouble since they are such impulsive creatures! They must learn to use caution. If one has a Horse in their house, you can bet the Horse receives most of the attention. Horses like being the hub and have everything revolving about them. In return, they work hard and share with everyone. My mate should be a tiger! That's what I learned cause I was waiting so long to be waited on. Seriously we waited a good 15 minutes before we were about to walk out and someone finally came over. Hmmm now what did I have the chicken or pork? Funny I couldn't tell the difference because when I tasted my friends plate it tasted the same.
(2)
Cindy L.
The best thing about this place is that you don't have to crave pho to think that pho here is the best thing you'll ever have. This was my go-to place in college, and even though I've moved since then, it will still be my go-to place in Philly. The prices are affordable, the place is group friendly and the service is quick. And that's really all you can ask for. So if you're hungry, don't hesitate.
(5)
Josh G.
Oh, Choo Choo. How we love you. Living down the street, most of our takeout meals come from this small place on the corner of Chinatown. And they have never let us down. I've never eaten in the actual restaurant, but the takeout has always been ready in 10 minutes or less. We usually get the Tom Yum soup, which is one of the few dishes with strong Thai flavors and just the right amount of spice. Sometimes I wish that they had a smaller portion, as the current menu option is too big for an appetizer or afternoon snack. Any of the rice/noodle dishes with BBQ pork, lemongrass chicken, or minced shrimp are fantastic. Not a huge fan of the spring rolls, but if you get any of the combo dishes you won't be disappointed. We've gotten the Pad Thai a couple of times, but the flavor/texture is never quite as good as it is at other Thai places in the city. The only other reason for not 5 stars is that the chicken/pork can sometimes be a little on the fattier side. A mouthful of fat overwhelms spices/flavors every time.
(4)
Catherine K.
Cheap, large bowls of pho!! This place is always busy which is always a sign of a good restaurant. I wish there were more pictures on their menu... I would probably be more adventurous if I knew what I might be getting myself into.
(4)
Eric R.
Def the most inexpensive Pho I've had in the city.. Very popular spot I think. Not much too the place itself. I highly reccommend if you're trting ro get your Pho fix
(4)
Lil T.
I was very disappointed when I tasted the food there. Originally from SoCal, I know my vietnamese food and this restaurant is so bad. I read the menu and wanted almost everything on it. But I had to limit myself so I ordered 3 things. 1) pho 2) bun thit nuong (dry rice noodles with BBG pork) 3) chao tom (shrimp on sugarcane). The pho broth was plain without spices, lots of MSG, and the meat was tough. The dry noodle was okay but the BBQ pork was again plain, no seasoning/taste to it. And the shrimp on sugarcane was the worst. OMG, it tasted like cardboard without any flavor. I would not recommend this place to anyone. I don't believe people are okay with this kind of food. It fails to represent vietnamese food. In fact I don't think any of the vietnamese restaurants in Philly represent at all. Sorry. Try Southern California in Orange County. Most restaurants there are good.
(1)
Doriancita H.
This is a great small restaurant in the heart of Chinatown in Philadelphia. Easy to miss, and you might not even notice it walking by. This place is very cheap and affordable. They have a pretty wide variety of food you can choose from their menu. I always go for their vegetable noodle soup. The vegetable is fresh, it comes in huge amounts, and it is healthy, quick, and I always feel full after. I've also had their summer rolls and would say they make one of my favorite tofu summer rolls. I've also tried their green curry, definitely had better, they just don't have as much other fancy veges/ complimentary food that goes along with the dish. I see a lot of their customers order their sizzling dishes. They also have the fish tank with fresh fish, shrimp and lobster for consumers to pick some fresh seafood to be prepared and eaten at the restaurant. Don't be freaked out by it, that's just the Asian way of eating fresh seafood. I'm not sure if I have ever seen anyone actually order from there though. Food is always quick, and the menu is sooooo cheap. Great place to pop in for a quick lunch if you like Asian food.
(4)
Yohann S.
Just another Pho house. Very large bowl for Large size ($5.50) and Ultra large bowl for their XLarge size ($6.50). Same prices with any other pho joint. Same meats. Same cold/indifference service like any other pho places. Don't get me wrong. The food is tasty (read: edible). But.. it just like that. Nothing different with any other pho restaurant. Oh meatballs is extra $2. I think that's a little steep, but whatever. They taste ordinary (read: edible)
(3)
Katie I.
1. Pho Xe Lua, or CHOO CHOO for the more experienced crowd, is a tiny hole in the wall with a great big neon sign in the shape of a train that is impossible to miss. 2. Their Pho is delicious! I don't eat beef but I always can find a tasty (and huge) pho-style soup in their 500+ item menu, and it's accompanied by super fresh limes, cilantro and tons of cinnamon basil. 3. They have the best Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese beers for the cheapest in town! And they have martinis for $4.95. Pretty priceless and hard to beat if you ask me. Bring your friends!
(5)
Gabrielle W.
I decided I wanted pho randomly the other day even though I've only had it one time in my life. I looked at all of the places on yelp and really wanted to try some of the places on Washington Ave but my boyfriend screeched "not so fast! no washington ave! someone just got shot there recently!".. I tried to explain that it was 100000% safe in the daylight but he wasn't having it. So we went to this place instead. We both had the summer rolls and the beef pho as our entree which was very good. I was really impressed with our waiter, he explained a couple items on the menu and he was easy to understand. Sometimes there are language barriers at Asian restaurants and I get stressed out that I'm going to order pigs balls or something like that because I don't know what I'm ordering so I was happy. I was also pretty pumped at how clean the place was..my garnishes were healthy and looked like they had just been washed. I'll definitely be back to this place!
(4)
Andrew P.
Since Pho Ha on Washington is too far, Choo Choo hits the spot. Been craving pho the whole weekend, and what better way to skip watching the Super Bowl than grabbing a hot XL bowl of pho for $6.50!? Service is always attentive, $ is light on the wallet, and food (at least the pho) is always great.
(4)
Yi H.
It's known as "choo choo" to everyone I know. I think it's the place for every asian teenagers! It brings back so much memories everytime I go there. They are known for the pho. I love the pho there, especially the thin slice beef flank and tripe pho. It's favorful and you can taste all the spices they used. I usually order the papaya salad or the summer (spring) rolls. I've discovered that they don't use as much herbs as I hoped( a bit too light for my liking). On the other hand, Nam Phuong is hardcore with the herbs which I love. I think it's mostly about the location. Choo Choo have a larger population of mix audience whereas, Nam Phuong is in a Vietnamese community. It's all about customization of the tastes.
(4)
JulieJuli A.
Julie 3 1/2 stars but i'll round up. Excellent Viet spot in Philly's chinatown. I've had pho here before and it was excellent. Well prepared, and hot soup and fresh meat. i just stopped by and here's what I had. Started with the Banh Cuon Cha Lua.. or steamed flour rolls with Viet sausages that you pour sauce over. Delicious... The sausages were just ok... I really wish they would have the same exact dish but with chinese sausages instead. Summer or shrimp rolls are good as well. I got the grilled chicken and pork chop combo on top of rice for $5.50... How can you beat that. The pork was a little fatty and not as much flavor as i like, but still good. I liked the chicken better. Also had a chef special "salted baked soft shell crabs". Taste great but a little greasy. The first few bites were delicious then the grease got to me. They should call it deep fried soft shell crabs instead. I got a rainbow ice with the meal which is red beans, mung beans and some jelly like stuff mixed with ice and condensed milk. Fattening but soooo good. It's a great place for a delicious and cheap meal. No decor in the place but you're going there for the food....
(4)
Caroline V.
So for a long time this wasn't on my list... I had tried it and had such a bad experience i never wanted to go back...but since all my friends LOVE this place i finally stepped back in... i'm still not a fan of their pho or their crispy spring rolls topped w. crushed peanuts?! (i like the traditional ones made with rice paper) but their bo tai chanh (raw beef w. lime juice, fried shallots with fish sauce dip) is awesome!!! So friggin GOOD. (think of it as viet style beef carpaccio) Now the last time we went we decided to get family style dishes and they were all a hit! snail with lemongrass & hot pepper: YUM! you need to use toothpicks but well worth the work salted baked soft shell crab: hmm looked/tasted deep fried to me! but it's a huge plate and it's GOOD! super fried goodness (i've had this dish multiple times...YUM) pan fried egg noodles with seafood: noodles were crispy, sauce was really good and went well w. the seafood, plus it had some veggies/mushrooms which is always nice Add a side of rice and you had 3 happy and stuffed people. We even had to pack leftovers. Food looked and tasted so good the table next to us ended up asking what it all was so they could try it on their next visit. bonus: cheap!!! 8.95 for the noodles, 13.95 for the softshell crab and 9.95 for the snails
(4)
Meghan D.
Great little place in Chinatown. Have been ordering there for years. Try any of the Pho soups, the Tom Yum soup, the Satay beef with noodles, or the shrimp rolls. Affordable, fast and delicious.
(5)
Erica M.
After reading these Yelp reviews, my boyfriend and I couldn't wait to try this place (we anxiously waited a week until it reopened after renovations). The food lived up to the hype...we each got Pad Thai and it was fresh, flavorful and a HUGE portion. I got the vegetarian ($8) and he got the chicken ($9) and after trying both, I'd opt for the chicken next time. Shrimp rolls (aka summer rolls) are delicious! BBQ chicken vermicelli is awesome! Service is quick, prices are great and food is excellent quality.
(5)
Marissa T.
Oh yes, yes yes yes. This is the place to get Pho. It's a tiny joint in chinatown, that my friend introduced me to last week and I've been thinking about it ever since. My staples are summer rolls and beef & tripe pho. It's seriously the basis of my diet growing up and whenever I'm homesick or lost in life... I run to the nearest Pho place and chow down. I think it just grounds me, whether if it's mentally or in my tummy. The portions here are great, I got extra meat, lime and basil and they were sooo generous with it. My friend got the raw flank steak with lime juice, topped with crunchy onions, he was so excited for it because it's not a common thing to see on menus. He also got the tomyum soup and loved it. My other friend also got pho, however she got the beef + brisket variety and was really satisfied. Also, to settle my tastebuds- I got the Avocado milkshake and it was just perfect. I'll probably go here tomorrow, and twice a week for forever.
(5)
Karen C.
Always my go to spot for viet food. Last night was just disappointing. I order spring rolls and a veggie dish both orders were too greasy. Service is whatever, should of known better, their Asians. Gotta excuse that. Lol. Noodle soups are alway tasty thou.
(3)
Jake V.
I wanted to try this place awhile back but they were closed for renovations. Coming back on Chinese New Year, I'm not exactly sure what they renovated as it looks like every other chinese food place in Chinatown except they have monitors on the wall letting you know how the Dow Jones Industrial is doing along with the weather as if stock brokers and meteorologist come in for a steaming bowl of Pho constantly. Besides that, I had green curry chicken and my fiancee had vermicelli with bbq pork and spring roll. We were sufficiently fed and happy with the result. I have a little regret that I didn't try to Pho but maybe next time I have a hankering for soup and stock information, I'll give this place another whirl.
(4)
Retset Y.
This place is great and inexpensive. Double-whammy! No, seriously, go to here. Raw beef salad. Awesome and fresh! Chicken curry. Amazing and cheap, like $5?! Love this place!
(4)
Dave W.
The last two times I came here, it was closed. Is it really open?
(1)
Dan L.
Some of the best Pho I've ever had! Had an early dinner there last night. Place is small but they're very efficient bringing everything out so there's a lot of turnover. Don't expect an inviting ambiance with warm attentive waiters. The atmosphere is cold, but not rude. But who cares? I came here for traditional south asian food. And that's exactly what we got. Great spring rolls and very traditional Pho. Tripe and all! Dinner for 2, appetizers, entrees and a couple drinks for under $30. Great place, will be going back.
(4)
Justin B.
Great place to grab some Thai and super cheap! I was surprised at the amount of food I got for under $20
(5)
Justine W.
I love this place, pho realz. It's cheap, it's fast, and, most of all, it's delicious. I love this place so much that I used to go by myself after work to have a date with just me and my bowl of pho. Those were good times. And even now it is still a place I frequent with my friends often. I've never gotten any food other than pho here, but I've had friends who love the vermicelli bowls just as much as I love menu item 101. When I'm feeling less meaty, I go with 110. But regardless, it's all delicious.
(5)
Jelyn F.
My boyfriend and I have been coming here regularly for years. It's always our go-to spot for Pho therapy.
(5)
May T.
I'd say this is one of the best pho places in Chinatown, but not Philly overall. The prices are remarkably cheap for the amount of food you get, be it a large bowl or pho or a bowl of bun. I'd come to Pho Xe Lua for a bowl of pho before swinging in Pho 75 or Vietnam Palace. It's just easier on the wallet and more food for your buck. So I suppose if you're in the Chinatown area and in the mood for pho, swing down here. But if you're in south philly or otherwise, you know what to do: go to Washington Ave.
(3)
Noah G.
I live by the food modo I'll try everything twice (except for durian bubble tea, good God, what the F is that S??). The first time I got the Pho Special from Xe Lua and saw the gelatin meat cube that I believe is called tendon (for any Hungarians out there it looks exactly like head cheese) in it I was visably disappointed. Either way I hid it at the bottom of the bowl and hoped that it would disinigrate into the soup. It definitely didn't and I gagged it down. Christmas night we went back and I went for the Pho special again because I was worried I would be missing something if I gave up on the tendon after one try. I wasn't, it was gross. The rest of the ingrediants were very good though and I'd give the Pho 4 stars minus tendon. The second time I got it, knowing I might not enjoy the Pho with the meat jello in it I also got the salt and pepper baked squid. It was so chewy it was like eating gigantic braces bands. The flavor was really good but it took me the entire length of Money Ball to finish it (literally). 4 Star Pho san the jello meat / 2 Star chewy squid / 2 star movie *In 7th grade I made a diarama of a cell in gelatin, some of you may have as well, that's exactly what the tendon looked like...mitocondria gross!!!
(3)
Ali B.
Amazing pho. Great prices. Delicious broth. All the fixings. I have nothing else to say. Go. Go as much as you can and as often as you can. Beer available. Quick, friendly service.
(5)
Enid C.
Going on five years in Philadelphia, and "Choo Choo" (affectionately named, in reference to the neon train in the window) is my most frequented restaurant in the entire city. Why? The food is good, it is plentiful, it is cheap, and comes out at the speed of an African swallow (which if you didn't know, is pretty darn fast). This place is always teeming with locals, and they make good use of their downstairs and upstairs seating areas. Service and ambiance could always be better, but if these things are important to you, then I don't know why you came looking in Chinatown in the first place. Definite recommendations: - Pho - of any kind (and get the meat raw on the side). You can find better quality pho along Washington Ave, but nowhere else in Chinatown will you find it as cheap, as fresh, or as large. - Beef carpaccio (raw flank steak with lime) - don't be intimidated by the word "raw." Just think of it as like a Vietnamese, red meat ceviche. - Fruit smoothies - with real fresh fruit! Avocado is my personal fav, but there are plenty of other winners too. There is an extensive menu - and I mean EXTENSIVE - with other delicious rice dishes and vermicelli. Be warned though, the summer rolls are not fantastic. They also have domestic beers available for about $3 a pop. Great for a quick lunch or late night. Word of Advice: Even though the word "Thai" is in the title, don't come here looking for Thai, not even a little bit. Stick to the Viet stuff, and you will leave a happy, stuffed camper.
(4)
Andrew K.
Visiting from Northern Virginia. It was one of best pho restaurants I've eaten recently. .. The price was also excellent. I would go back whenever I visit Philadelphia. Order spring rolls with your pho...
(5)
Victor C.
Whenever I say Xe Lua to anyone, they look at me like some type of weirdo. But when I mention choo choo, they're like "OH, I love that place!". It's the same place... I've been eating here since I was a kid. I remember the food quality being better from years ago. OR, I'm just a picky snob now. Who knows. Their service is still fast and rushing, though. My last trip to choo choo's was after a Kelly Drive run. I was starving. I ordered banh beo (rice cakes) and bo luc lac (stir fried beef cubes). My friends ordered a goi cuon (summer roll) and pad thai (stir fried rice noodles). I love their Pad Thai here. The other stuff, not so much. The banh beo was missing the tiny dried shrimp, which I like. The dried pork that was sprinkled on top had a funny taste (expired?). Bo luc lac is supposed to be stir fried filet mignon, according to their menu. The meat was so tough that I thought it was stir fried beef chuck. It also had way more peppers and onions than beef. I don't think bo luc lac is even supposed to have onions and peppers in it. I know their pad thai isn't very authentic, but it's still delicious! Don't forget to add the lime to the noodles. The only times I come here are when friends choose to. If I'm craving Vietnamese food, I go to Washington Ave. Don't forget to grab a bubble shake!
(3)
Aliya Z.
All the things to try are variations of Vietnamese soups! They are really good. But the problem they don't have the pictures in their menu, so really difficult to identify how the dish would look like in reality. Try to see some yelps photos first.
(4)
Michelle Y.
I love Pho Broth, but not the noodles... so I ordered the Lemon Chicken rice platter and asked for a bowl of Pho broth on the side, and they were able to accommodate, free of charge!! 1 appetizer, 3 entrees for $25.. can't beat that :)
(5)
Keith C.
This is the place to go if you want authentic Vietnamese food. Price is cheap and portions are large. Always tastes great with fresh ingredients. Fast service and friendly staff. We always park at the indoor valet Wilson Parking lot on Race street between 9th and 10th streets. Cheapest parking lot in Chinatown. No worries about tickets or bumps or scratches from other people who can't park when leaving it on the street. It's just a half block walk to the restaurant. My afternoon is complete!
(5)
Igal K.
What an amazing gem! Unlike most Pho restaurants in the city, this one offers a vast menu that includes not only Pho (the signature soup) but many specialty dishes. Their Pho is also amazing because it has about 20 variations and does include seafood Pho (a rarity in the city as well) The place itself is rather old, which gives it a dirty look but it's just the look, I do believe that they pass their sanitary inspection with flying colors.
(5)
Keran C.
I was a little skeptical of how the food would be from the looks of the place from the outside. However, it was amazing. Despite being busy, we were seated quickly.The waiter knew the menu and recommended us great options according to our preference. We ordered the Beef and tendon Pho, Chicken Green Curry , and vegetable egg rolls. All three were AMAZING! Pho- the broth was very flavorful. You could taste each ingredient in the broth. So we knew it was freshly made. The beef was high quality beef-- good color, good scent, and tender. (5.95 for a large which we both ate and still had some left over). Green Curry with Rice- Again, very flavorful and fresh. The curry was spicy enough to give you that zing...however, not enough to over power the other flavors of the dish. The mushrooms and green beens were fresh. Vegetable egg rolls: It is pretty hard to make a bad vegetable egg roll. But to make one that actually stands out from the rest is a challenge. And Xe Lua Viet Thai (also known as choo choo) has succeeded. Crispy on the outside with tender vegetables on the inside. Lovely... Restrooms- In the back of the restaurant. We did not visit them so I do not know if they are clean. Parking- Street parking with meters. Hard to find but worth the fight. There are also parking lots around the area. However, these cost about 10$ per hour. Cost: REASONABLE. All three dishes cost less than 20$. Pho Large serving is only 5.95$ Ambiance- Very casual. Crowded. Loud. Suggestions: Have lunch or dinner there and then walk around China town and pick up a pastry and coffee from one of the many bakeries in the area. The only reason the place is not a 5 star is because it lacks in decor, space, and a proper bar/lounge area. You will see what I am saying if you get the chance to eat there. Bot overall, a place I would recommend.
(4)
Bruce B.
I'll be short and sweet (a first for me!) Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai or affectionately know as "Choo Choo" in Chinatown. is the biggest bang for your buck in Chinatown along with Tasty Place. The food is good and two people can feast on $20 bucks and I mean feast. I gotta give a shout out for their amazing fruit smoothies (Strawberry!!) WOO WOO!! all aboard!
(4)
Sarah P.
Best pho broth in the area! I'm also a fan of their pad thai.
(4)
Kim C.
I highly recommend this place. I always get their seafood noodle soup. Its broth is very tasty. I need to expand my food palate. However, I just can't resist but getting the same thing every time I am there! So good & it is cheap!
(4)
Onias D.
Perfect. Yet 4 stars, only because I hold out hope for something comparable to west-coast-pho. That being as it may, so good. No non-sense service. I mean, you ask for 'veggie pho' and its what you get minus the snooty/ dumbfounded attitude. Also, they got booze, booze plus coursed options w/ suggestions. This is the sort of place that if I were single would bring a date AND get lucky. Not in the heart of China town, between it and the highway, so, you know, no where to run. Moreorless at the center of that whole 'north 8th - 12th' center city scene. Date spot, great broth, booze, helpful service/menu!
(4)
Issa M.
Cockroaches in the pho! I have been to this restaurant several times and always liked the food. But I went again with some friends last night and guess what we found in one of our bowls of pho? A cockroach. Yes, you read it correctly. There was a cockroach, dead and looking as though it had been there a while, floating in the pho. We stopped eating and complained, of course. What was most disturbing was that the waiter look unsurprised! It was clearly not the first time this had happened. And he offered to get us more pho. Needless to say, we refused. Obviously the entire pot was contaminated. Although the manager/owner apologized, it was only after it became clear that other diners began to notice. We didn't pay for the pho, any of it. But they still charged us for the rest of the food we had already eaten (mostly apetizers). Apparently pho is made in advance and sits around for a while to ferment. The same pot is used for days. So if the establishment is not careful about cleanliness, things can fall in the pot. We will never go back.
(1)
John M.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in the city. Their food is good, cheap, and they have a lot of options. Also, they have $3 beers and $5 mixed drinks.
(5)
Natalie B.
You get a lot of food for a good price, but their pho is only decent. It's a bit bland. I've also had the raw beef with lime which was diviiiine. I haven't tried their other dishes, but from looking at my friends', they look legit. I like their avocado milkshake, too. Seating is a little weird, but I think they do what they can with their small space. We sat at a table for four that was about an inch away from a table for two. The couple looked kind of peeved (sorry!). The service isn't particularly bad, but they could be a little more attentive. Overall, Pho Xe Lua is a pretty average place. Brownie points for having both a name and nickname that's fun to say.
(3)
Jennifer T.
People who've been going to this place as long as I have all know that it's really called CHOO CHOOs =) I mean, with a neon train in the front window, what else could this place be called?? But name, aside, those who know Choo Choo also know that they have some of the best fruit smoothies, particularly the Avacado, Durian (for the brave) or Strawberry. Some of the other notable dishes from here include the Vietnamese beef carpaccio (Bo Tai Chanh) and the Bo Luc Lac (Lemongrass Beef Cubes with Watercress Salad). A couple other of my favorites include the Thai coconut mini escargots and the beef sate stew served with wide rice noodles......yum!!! Think I need a a Choo Choo fix right now! Haha
(4)
Constance A.
My friend brought me here when I went down to Philly to visit him. I've had Pho in NY and NJ. Comparing them to this place, Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai is okay. My friend and I ordered beef pho and spring rolls for appetizers. Both were good. Nothing special. It is a big bowl of pho at a very good (cheap) price. So I cannot complain.
(3)
Ida C.
My first experience with Vietnamese food was nearly a decade ago at Xe Lua (aka Choo Choo's) on a hot summer day after the X-games. I was totally grossed at the prospect of avocado milkshakes and hot soups, but was willing to give them a shot because my friends were so insistent. It turned out to be a fantastic food gamble! The restaurant was crowded that day and has been every weekend day during lunch as long as I've been a patron there. The air conditioning felt blessedly cool, and the atmosphere was loud and jovial. We were ushered to a table on the first floor and seated with little fanfare. It was decided that I would be trying the Hu Tieu Xa Te Bo (beef satay soup with flat rice noodles) ($5.50) and an Avocade Milkshake ($3). It was love at first inhale on the sate and at first taste on the milkshake. Having only experienced them in guacamole and sushi, I never imagined that avocados could taste so good sweetened. It was smooth, creamy and wonderfully cooling on the hot day. The old fashioned glass and cherry added to the fun! The sate was complex and rich with lots of spices and a satisfying kick! The noodles were flat thick chow fun rice noodles and went very well with the soup. I was a fan of the generous beef chunks and the whimsical population of pineapple chunks inhabiting my bowl. At tens of subsequent visits, I've tried many other things on the menu and found nearly everything to be great value and large portions, but my favorites are still the beef satay noodle soup and the avocado milkshake. The pho is also quite satisfying and comes in thrillingly large bowls. PARTING THOUGHT: Leftovers never taste as good as the restaurant experience because the noodles get all soggy and the sate gets super oily, so I'd recommend not taking your extra soup noodles home, even though portions are huge
(4)
Helen L.
First trip to Philly. Plenty to see. Plenty to taste. I walked through many neighborhoods and considered many locations for dinner, but somehow my belly led me here...to the Pho. I thought the Pho was good, but FAR from the best I've ever had. Rating for the Pho would probably be 3.5 stars. The five stars are for the cheap liquor. Cheap, as in affordable. Not cheap, as in low quality. Asians don't drink "cheap" liquor. It's the law. Shots of Absolut were under four bucks and they pour high. I was just excited they had a bar with hard liquor. Authentic spots like this don't usually shell out for a liquor license.
(5)
Stephanie Y.
This place is good for cheap eats and super speedy service. We usually come late at night. Pho is usually a pretty good choice, #107. Beef carpaccio is you're feeling adventurous. You can pretty much point to anything on the menu and be pretty satisfied with it. They also make pretty good shakes. Mango is my favorite flavor and it's perfect in the summertime!!!
(3)
Michael S.
I've never had pho before. But, I gaurentee you I will be having it again, and chances are I will be going back to Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai for it. The bowl was huge, the meat was delicious, and the broth was so tasteful. For $6 you get an enourmous bowl of soup, noodles, meat, seasoning that will replace any meal. I added some sriracha to it for a little kick and was more than satisfied with my meal after I was done. I don't have much to compare it to, but my friends say this place is the best for Pho. So far for me it is too.
(4)
Barrett L.
Came here last night craving pho since our go-to was closed. Like many of the places nearby in Chinatown, it's pretty much a hole in the wall, but if you can get beyond the dive-y feel, the pho is actually pretty good. I got the beef special pho, which contains beef flank, tendon, and tripe. I've never had tripe before, so eating it for the first time was an experience (it doesn't taste like anything, it just looks weird and knowing what it was as I was eating it didn't help either, but I still ate it). But overall, the pho here is pretty good: not too bland, not too spicy, and definitely filled with tons of ingredients. I got a lot more beef in my bowl here than at other places. Both of us got the XL bowl, which proved to be too much pho per person. I also got an avocado milkshake, which was sweet, creamy, and delicious. Overall, this is a great, cheap, and very filling dive-y spot with good Pho. Next time I'll just stick to something with less organ meat.
(3)
S R.
Ordered the Pho and loved it! The meal was delicious, though the restaurant itself was fairly loud. Incredibly great value for a great meal.
(4)
Christina S.
Constantly being on the hunt for perfect Pho, Yelp pointed me in the direction of PXLVT. The restaurant was pretty crowded when we first entered so we had to wait about ten minutes for a table. It kind of feels like you're standing over the people sitting closest to the door being that there is no real waiting area (other than outdoors). Being that we were kind of in a rush, we both ordered the sliced chicken Pho and some spring rolls. Both were great. The server could have been a little more friendly, but I can't complain too much being that we got delicious, inexpensive food in a short amount of time. The tables stayed full, and the turn around was pretty amazing. I will definitely go back.
(4)
Christina K.
First off, I would like to say that of all the Vietnamese Restaurants in Chinatown, this has got to be my #1 favorite. That being said, I frequent this place as often as I can. I have my boyfriend hooked on this place too. The staff has been the same for as long as I can remember and they get the job done. Not overly friendly but the service is quick and attentive. Plus, whenever I order take out, the guy who works the counter never charges me tax. They take care of their regulars, that is one aspect of many that keeps me loyal. I have ordered a variety of different things on the menu and cannot remember a time when I was disappointed. My boyfriend swears by their Pho and raves about it to anyone who will listen. My favorites are: the Raw flank steak appetizer; Banh Cuon Cha Lua (Steamed rice crepe with pork sausage) any of their BBQ chicken, pork or beef with lemongrass over broken rice combos; Bun Bo Hue (Spicy beef noodle soup); any of their Rice Vermicelli combos, and either an iced cold Vietnamese coffee, or creamy avocado milkshake. All amazing and keeps you coming back for more and more. If you're questioning on where to go for Vietnamese food in Chinatown, look no further, you have reached your destination.
(5)
KT L.
The beef pho noodle soup is just okay here, I've had better flavor at the restaurants down on Washington Ave.
(3)
Kimberly P.
Love this place! Delicious and generous amount of pho (especially if you get a small bowl) and stupendous bun bo hue! One of my favorites in china town.
(4)
Shawn B.
Fast seating, fast service, food was delectable! I stopped during the lunch rush, I was seated quickly , received GREAT SERVICE.... Walked out full, and happy! Definitely worth a look!
(5)
Peter K.
Very good pho. Open late too.
(5)
Nora S.
Had the bun. The pork was really excellent, but the shrimp was not great. The vermicelli were also much bigger than I've had at other places and I didn't prefer it that way. Not the greatest I've had in the city, so I wouldn't make a special trip up there when I could just go to Wash Ave. Update: Went again. Sad dead crab floating in tank. Mushy pho noodles. Won't go again.
(2)
Nataly N.
Eh, not sure if tonight was an off night for them, considering all the raving reviews... But I came in here starving (so things should automatically taste 10x better) and came out with a very disappointing experience. I would stick with the beef noodle soup (Pho Tai) which features very tender and nicely cooked slices of beef, instead of the one with beef and brisket - which I chose today. The brisket is cooked to the point where it is dry and flavorless, and the broth is a bit on the thinner side as far as Philly pho joints go. The noodles were also over-cooked. I also tried the minced shrimp on sugarcane appetizer, but really regretted this choice after seeing that there was barely any shrimp wrapped around a really big sugar cane stick. Not only have I had it better elsewhere, but for some reason, this appetizer also took a really long time to arrive. The worst was the service, even by Chinatown standards. Most places in this neighborhood have awkward service, but it seems like most of the servers here don't even try. I had barely sat down and set down my purse when someone asked me (twice) if I was ready to order. Once I ordered, the food took a while to arrive, and the service was completely nonexistent after that. I may or may not return. They do, however, offer alcoholic beverages, and they do take some credit/debit cards.
(3)
Mai N.
Its my first time at Choo choo's, the resturant's popular nickname. When walking in, it's easy to suddenly feel just a bit overwhelmed: the smell of clearly Vietnamese cooking hits you and the sound of bustling customers are present. The bar is a bit over decorated but the dining area is simplistic and well designed. You're immediately seated and there's always space despite being popular. The place is definitely popular, and the establishment is very legitimate in what they advertise themselves as: a Vietnamese and Thai resturant. (Though its mostly the Vietnamese part that I pay attention to.) The condiments are all there (best sign!), the prices are reasonable, and the food is done with clearly family recipes that one would definitely find in a Vietnamese home. The atmosphere is great, the decorations a bit tacky but tasteful. The music that they play is usually Asian, mostly Vietnamese and I had to smile at their selections because they were popular songs that my family listens to whenever we all get together to have a feast. The menu is in Northern Vietnamese but the dishes taste just a bit Southern. (This is a good thing, guys.) I had gotten a rice dish, number 204: rice with BBQ pork, shredded pork, and steamed egg that had its usual lettuce, cucumber, carrot and radish side dish that would be present. While it reigned true to Vietnamese cooking (and trust me I was quite impressed that my date had picked out a place that reminded me of Vietnam so clearly), it was averagely sub par at most. It was good though, don't get me wrong. It's mostly personal preference and a bias of my grandmother's cooking, I'd suppose. Lettuce was a bit too hard, the nuoc mam is a bit sweet but not overly spicy (disappointing for me but perfect for people who've never had it before and do not mind a bit bit of sweetness in in their sauces), but the meat well prepared and seasoned properly. I enjoyed tearing through a dish such this that i haven't had in a long time. But I've had better. The staff is productive, not too friendly but not rude: they come and then they go. Due to how's it usually busy and bustling, they are only there when you need them. It'd best to to try to to get their attention when you're ready to order, don't sit there waiting. The complimentary tea is great and well picked although their tea pot isn't well suited for people who aren't used to drinking tea, and at worse, annoying to tea-drinkers such as myself when trying to pour as it spills when you finish pouring. (Ordering a drink would probably be best. If you're of age, try the bar seeing as I can't give a proper review of that.) There's not much hassle about payment, you pay for your meal when you're done and leave the blackbook to an employee and then you're out on your way. They clean up once you're out so try not to leave too much of a mess but don't clean it up for them. I wouldn't mind going back, perhaps to try their pho and see whether they know how to make a good broth or not. But I do recommend trying the place out if you ever need a good Vietnamese comfort or an adventurous mood for Thai, try here if you've got $10-$20 to spend if you're a party of two or more. (Don't forget to tip.)
(3)
AJ A.
Slow service.... But a lot of servings
(2)
Jenny J.
I wish I could give this place ZERO stars. Too bad that's not an option. I've been a loyal customer here for years and consistently go here for Pho when I'm in Chinatown or taking a lunch break from work. This happened to me about three months ago, but since I decided to start yelping again, I feel strongly to write this and put this out there. I usually get the pho. When I got it, it had a visible piece of hair. I usually don't like to make a fuss about wrong orders or my orders at all, but come on... a visible piece of hair!?! So I call one of the waiters over and he sees it and takes my bowl away. Less than a minute later, I get my food back and guess what... THE SAME PIECE OF HAIR IS STILL THERE and it just looked like they stirred the other stuff around. I really wanted to walk out at that point... anyway, don't ask me what ended up happening, but needless to say, I WILL NEVER BE RETURNING TO CHOO CHOO'S AGAIN AND WILL BE ANTI CHOO CHOOS FOREVER. Go to Pho Ha in South Philly if you want some decent service or Pho. Choo choos is garbage.
(1)
Jen W.
Best Pad Thai (phad thai) ever! And the raw beef with lime juice is my favorite appetizer. Pho is pretty good and the drinks selection is pretty vast. You can buy alcohol here!
(5)
Rr R.
I went here last week because I was looking for a good pho spot downtown, and it was great! I ended up going there for lunch two days in a row...medium-rare beef pho both times. The service is quick, the prices are cheap, and the bowl is huge. Extra-large is just too big for me, but the large pho is plenty big enough. I also had the spring rolls (delicious), and one of the best cups of coffee I've had in a long time.
(4)
Andrea P.
A great place to go if you are in center city and want a delicious but inexpensive meal. Viet Thai is one of my favorite places to go. You get huge plates of food for a really small price. I like all of their spicy rice dishes. I have been so many times and have never been disappointed.
(5)
Ramya K.
Favorite restaurant in Philly by far. It's super cheap, the waiters are really nice, you get a TON of food, and it's really yummy. They also have a lot of variety, which is good for me since I'm very picky. I love the pho, the BBQ chicken, and the stir fried chicken with rice. It's a whole lot of food for around $6 each. I also got one of the Vermicelli dishes once, and it lasted me for three full meals. The highlight of the restaurant for me are the fresh fruit smoothies. I highly recommend the coconut smoothie with bubbles. I think I've been going here at least once a week, if not more, and I haven't tired of the food yet.
(5)
Michael H.
The kitchen knows what it is doing. Really good Pho, curry and BBQ. Waitstaff is prompt and efficient and the bottled beer is cold. The neon train is just an added bonus!
(4)
Victoria T.
Pho Xe Lua is not a large place, but it's bigger than it seems since it has second-floor seating. It seems like it'd be best for parties of 6 and under. Despite having small areas, the restaurant is not crowded. It has a clean, simple design, and Vietnamese pop plays quietly in the background. I was really surprised at how clean the bathrooms were, too. They were impecable, and even had those Xlerator hand dryers. For a smaller restaurant, Xe Lua has quite a large menu. It includes a category of "Chef's Specials," which is a total mixed bag of dishes from beef, pork and shrimp to frog and lamb. It offers dinners to be shared for parties of 2, 4, 6, and 8. Alcohol is featured at the forefront of the menu as well as the store, but I just had some Thai tea ($2, cheap!) while waiting for my friend. I observed a mixed clientele, ranging from white to hispanic to Vietnamese. I ordered Pho Tai Nam. Pho here comes in two sizes, large ($5.95) and extra large (6.95). Xe lua indeed! It came quickly, and the large was huge! I couldn't finish. My friend Michael is what he calls a picky eater and what I call crazy - he asked for his with no vegetables. Somehow, it came with onions and scallions anyway. Poor Michael! He ate it anyway. The broth here is light, tasty, and not oily at all. Michael and I both agreed that it could use more meat flavor though. Perhaps it was a little too light; we felt it was a muted flavor. I was very happy to see pink meat, something I've missed for a while. As I separated my slices of rare steak, the ones in the middle were even more pink! Finally I could see my meat cook in the broth. Sadly, it wasn't very flavorful either, but a bit dry. I thought it was pretty good overall, but something must have been wrong with me that day. I didn't come close to finishing. Did I subconsciously think it wasn't very good, or was I just not feeling pho that day? I was definitely hungry; I'd been walking around Philly all day sightseeing. Oh well. It's probably worth coming back, but if I were to eat pho again in Philly, I'd give another restaurant a try. Rating Breakdown: Taste (10/14): Broth flavor- 4/5 Noodle & meat quality- 3/5 Garnish selection- 1/2 Portion size- 2/2 Restaurant (13/16): Service- 4/5 Cleanliness- 4/5 Atmosphere- 3/4 Speed of arrival- 2/2 Total: 23/30 Read more at phoacrossamerica.com
Service was fast. I ordered bun bo hue and it was a disappointment. The broth tasted watered down and the dish itself did not have much flavor in it either. However, the wait staff was courteous and the portions they served were bigger than most other Vietnamese restaurants. The pricing was also on par with what you expect.
(3)
Nicole H.
Best Pho I've had in Philly. After living in SF for a year, I was hesitant to even try the Vietnamese soup in my dear Philadelphia, out of fear I'd be 1) disappointed and 2) depressed/nostalgic. But I tried this place on a recommendation from a friend and could not have been happier. For 6 bucks all in I ordered the #102 to go. It was packaged perfectly - one of the things I love about pho is the process of making it yourself. Every single part of the soup was excellent - the broth, the meat (better quality than SF I must say), the noodles...even the sprouts! Highly HIGHLY recommend this spot to anyone who loves Vietnamese or is looking to try. You will not be disappointed!
(5)
Olivia J.
Went with a bunch of friends because we were all craving pho. We were in a rush but we were seated quickly and the food came out super fast, too. We left the restaurant like 30 min after we got there. I got pho, or dish 105. It was good - I liked the meat in it. Broth was kinda plain, I thought. So far I've had pho at three places in Philly and I think my rank of pho at these places goes like this: Nam Phong over this place (choo choo train haha) over Saigon Cafe.
(3)
Shine W.
They are closed on Wednesdays. This place has decent Vietnamese food if you don't want to head all the way down to South Philly. In Chinatown, this place gets packed on the weekends. The Pho was good, but I wish they had the tiny trays to put Siracha and Hoisin Sauce. I ended up having to put the sauce in my tea cup. Service was ok, my waiter looked pissed off but I'm sure he was just having a bad day.
(3)
Dana M.
I have only had pho one other time before this and I was not disappointed. I came with 10 people and they seated us right away. I got 102 (pho with beef) and the serving sizes are big and filling and the meat Is really good. They have a large variety on their menu and are very friendly. Prices are pretty fair.
(4)
JJ L.
I use to hear they have bad service, but it's great here. Maybe they used to have a lack of servers speaking a bit of English and people misunderstood it as bad customer service...? I like them, they do great. It's cheap and yummy food! Can't go wrong. Their cured raw beef with peanuts, Thai basil leaves, and fish sauce is bomb btw. So good. And it's cured enough. Great curry as well!
(4)
Kyle D.
Holy smokes this place is the real deal! Awesome crazy staff that reach right in front of your face and deliver pounds of pad Thai that will have you stuffed for days. Shrimp, chicken, tofu it's all amazing. My favorite pad Thai in the whole city. Order 420! Smoothies here are also awesome and you can even get them to go. Really fast pick up times too, under 15minutes
(5)
Sarah F.
The clouds have parted... and there at the center, is a huge bowl of Pho. Absolutely delicious and enlightening (thus the first sentence) lunch experience at Pho Xe Lua today! I felt almost treacherous ditching my normal spot, Pho Cali, and wandered a little further away from work to this spot. What a good idea and I will absolutely be coming here again in the near future. I got regular rare steak pho. The meat and noodle portions were large just with a regular bowl portion. What really made this pho exceptional was the broth. So savory and had the right amount of scallions and cilantro. My PIC (partner in crime) got the beef stir fry noodles. Also amazing! But really I'm a Pho girl and this will be my new go to spot for it.
(5)
Susanna L.
Yumyumyum. My place to come for pho when I'm in chinatown. Seated super quickly upon arrival and order taken quickly. Had the beef pho noodle dish. The portion size is huge, and comes super quick as well.
(4)
Irina A.
Pretty simple atmosphere but the service is efficient, the food is delicious. Went for dinner n lunch, loved both meals! N it's so cheap!
(5)
T M.
Cheap & good! I love this place!!!
(5)
myrna D.
Amazing!!!!!!!!!!! Great price. Fast service!!! I order the tofu pho. It was perfect! They serve you hot tea. It's a hidden gem. Truly yummy Going back each time I'm in philly
(5)
Vichet O.
I have to bump you back up to four stars, Choo Choo. It's criminal that I took a star away from you because I felt like you couldn't compete with my favorite Viet spot in Philly. Really, I shouldn't have been comparing you two in the first place. Because even though you have similar menus, you offer completely different things, and you are greater than the sum of your parts. Also, even though you're not quite as pretty, every time I try a new ramen joint in this town, I find myself thinking about how much I'd rather be with you. Stay cool, Choo Choo.
(4)
Colleen M.
I am no Pho aficionado - in fact, this was only my 3rd experience with the soupy, noodley concoction... but I am fairly certain I will not find anything quite like this anywhere else. The broth - oh my. So amazing! The noodles - plentiful and delicious. The service was very, very good. No, it's not fancy. I don't go out to eat for fancy all the time. You can't beat a quality meal at an affordable price; and one where you don't have to make it yourself. Let's be honest. The quality of food is far more important than the ambiance. And, I would patronize this place even if I had to sit in a cardboard box to do it.
(5)
Fan L.
South Philly has much better pho. We only stopped here because it's a bit more convenient but probably won't do that again. The pho was okay, nothing spectacular. The big problem was the bo kho - far too watery instead of being like a stew.
(2)
Mike U.
As a 'Miamian,' there aren't places down by me that have EXCELLENT Pho as I've encountered in the area with a large Asian population. To me, the best we have in Miami it's mediocre when it comes to these in other parts of the nation, but its up to par for the satisfaction of my belly. Pho Xe Lua...You have met my expectations in satisfying my belly with your Big O' Bowl of hot soupy slurpy goodness. As you walk in...this place is waited by predominantly 'Chinese.' I know, because I speaky their lingo... ; ) But service is quick & efficient, hot tea is brought to you without any questions as you are sitting at the table. Once ready and your order is placed, it doesn't take them very long but about 5-10 minutes for the waiter to walk briskly to your table with this big white bowl of hot soup filled to the brim. The broth is where its at! This broth was steamy and tasty with all those hours that they spend brewing up a pot of this. The noodles were cooked to perfection, springy...just a tad past al dente. Enough where it is not soggy and breaking apart every time you attempt to grab them with your chopsticks. BTW...the regular large size is more that enough! Unless you are starving and can scarve down your hatch a HUGE-R (yes, I know that word doesn't exist, but there is no other way I would describe how big their sizes are) bowl of slurpy goodness...go right ahead. Pho here is cheap and plentiful. You really get your bang for your buck! ...Wish there were more places like this back home.
(4)
Sarah K.
This is my regular pho place! I call it choo choo's for short (the neon sign train in their window). I love their pho and how affordable it is. Everything here is super cheap, and they don't sacrifice too much on the quality. Pho, thai green curry, pork chop over rice, pork chop vermicelli, raw beef appetizer (with peanuts, crunchy onions, lime, basil), summer rolls with peanut sauce are my faves. :) Highly recommend. Although I'm a huge fan of the price and the food, the service makes me a little uncomfortable. They are extremely fast and they do comply with all my requests - more limes please, meat on the side, etc. etc., but they are definitely not trying to make nice with all the customers.
(4)
Cuong D.
This place is pretty good. I've tried the pho and bun bo hue here and have never been disappointed. This is my go to viet restaurant if I want something good and cheap.
(4)
Carolyn L.
Maybe I've been spoiled by the abundance of great quality pho joints in Philadelphia, but I just thought the pho here was a bit lacking. The most essential component of my favorite rainy day elixer is the broth and it was just so bland. It had very little favor and I found myself added extra hot oil, sriracha, and lime in an effort to bring it to life with little success. We went on a Sunday evening, perhaps we got some watered down broth? Regardless, I feel that pho flavor should be fairly standardized in a restaurant. Consistency is key, right? While the broth was lacking, the meats were actually pretty flavorful and very tender. Another member of my party ordered one of the vermicelli dishes and it was also passable. Everything we ordered was OK. We finished our meals--nothing wow'ed us. There were some other dishes that came out of the back that looked pretty yummy. If I return, I'll probably try something other than the Pho.
(3)
Dennis L.
Definitely a fan. Definitely Cheap. Definitely open pretty late (for philly). While Pho Ha is still my go to in terms of having parking and taste wise. This is a close second. It's kinda plain looking on an off street, but it's good. The brothe is tasty, the flank was a bit fattier than I liked, and the tripe was pretty tangled. Definitely good though. The brothe is what makes or breaks pho for me.
(4)
Chau L.
Anyone out there like tendon in their pho? I do! This place offers a very generous portion of tendons with the pho, which is why they are my go-to spot in Chinatown for pho. Their avocado and taro smoothies are good here, too. They didn't get 5 stars bc the pork chop plate with broken rice is not the best I've had - the pork chop was a little on the greasy side and they overcooked my sunny side up egg, which is a big no-no. Also, the udon with ham hocks don't come with true Vietnamese Udon, which are translucent, but they use an opaque type, similar to ones used in Japanese/Korean food; the ham hocks had flavor, but they tasted like they had been frozen and had freezer burn/picked up weird smells from the other stuff in the freezer (does this make sense and gross anyone else out?). Ok, I said my piece. I go here often, despite finding the occasional dish that I don't like. They make tons of other things, and I'm sure I'll find lots of things I love here. Another perk is that they are open pretty late for a Vietnamese restaurant - till 11 some nights (Friday/Saturday).
(4)
Colleen S.
My boyfriend and I have begun exploring Chinatown recently. Our friend had recommended that we try this place. They had no idea what it was called, but told us you can't miss the giant, neon train in the window and they were right! We had a really great meal here.They have a full bar and large portions. Their menu is huge and I was tempted to order my go-to of beef pho, but decided against it. I was a little disappointed when my rice noodle dish had fried noodles, but the flavor was great and I was glad to try something new! Will definitely go back to try the Pho sometime!
(3)
Cynthia B.
I eat here ever since I was 12. The pho tastes much better back then. The portion was larger back then as well. Now, their broth is bland, looks like their meat is getting lower quality ones too. However it is still my to go place when I'm in Chinatown for a quick lunch. Their service is very fast too which is a good thing.
(3)
Ann S.
Have been coming here for 8 years, high quality delicious food and affordable. I always bring friends from town in and have had two big birthday bashes here, drinks are cheap too!
(5)
Daisy L.
the pho here is consistent and cheap. It is my go-to spot in philly, and the service is quick and efficient.
(4)
Linda N.
Because my beloved Pho 75 closed, boyfriend and I settled for Pho Xe Lua around the corner. If you have read my previous review of Pho Xe Lua's disastrous and inedble Com Bi (rice with shredded pork) to-go, I was hesitant in coming back here. The place was PACKED, but we were sat almost immediately and took only a few minutes to take a look at what we wanted to order. Ended up ordering Pho Tai (large, $5.95) and him Pho Xe Lua (x-large, $6.95) and they came out within minutes. The first few bites were okay, but the noodles were stuck together and the beef was blah. The broth, in particular, didn't really meet our expectations either - maybe it's because we've been spoiled by Pho 75. His x-large pho was ginormous, by the way. You can probably feed like two or three people with just that bowl alone. I guess they really mean 'xe lua' (train) when you order the x-large. We might possibly try the Bo Tai Chanh (Vietnamese beef carpaccio) at Pho Xe Lua next time... since a table close to us ordered it and it looked absolutely DELICIOUS. My mouth is watering right now thinking about it! So the three stars is solely based on the pho. It was just eh. The Pho Xe Lua experience itself wasn't terrible, don't get me wrong. We'll give it another try soon.
(3)
Michael F.
Pho in Chinatown... and some of the best Pho I've had to boot! I could describe the service, the atmosphere, and everything other than the food, but really why bother? You're here to eat! Get some Pho Tai, spice it to your liking, and dig in. While they were a bit light on the tripe, the beef was cooked (or should I say uncooked) to perfection. A regular bowl (they call them L versus XL) should be able to take care of you well until your next scheduled meal. Try to beat the lunch crowd since it gets packed.
(5)
C C.
Love this place, great food and cheap price. Service was always fast, it is the best place for pho in the Chinatown area. Great smoothies as well!
(5)
D L.
Choo choos is the place to be for some good Viet around. It has big portions, variety and does not break the bank. they accept cc which is also a plus. overall everything from pho, bun, and rice dishes are on point.
(4)
T N.
My favorite family restaurant to eat at! Pretty delicious food wise but place gets packed fast! They have one of the best snails made here! Definitely try it out!
(4)
Peter K.
I was craving pho after returning to Philadelphia from Orange County, CA (home of the largest Vietnamese population in America), and what a letdown Pho Xe Lua was. I ordered the pho tai, and was sorely disappointed. The "steak" meat was made of some sort of weird, processed, flat steak-like product that completely lacked flavor, and a greasy, flavorless sausage was also included. The broth was ok and the noodles were just fine. I definitely won't be returning.
(2)
T D.
Best Pho and Shrimp Pad Thai in Chinatown. My wife and I try to eat here about once a week and we are constantly recommending it to friends.
(5)
Rachel S.
I've only gotten take out but the food and prices are great. Love to bun bo heu, way more pork knuckles than some places give you.
(5)
MC M.
I've been to Choo Choo a couple times since my initial review. Okay, look, the food is slightly above average, but you can go with a vegan, a gluten-intolerant person, a gluten-intolerant vegan and voracious carnivores and find something satisfying. The portions are huge, too. Service is what you'd expect, and it can be a little crowded, but it's a solid solution to an intersection of food allergies and ethical choices.
(4)
Jesse Z.
I had vegetable spring rolls as an appetizer, and also pan friend noodles with shrimp and vegetables. Presentation of the noodle dish was great--it looked like a giant bird's nest made out of crunchy noodles, with the shrimp and vegetables in the middle. The amount of shrimp was generous, which was nice. However, it was too saucy for my liking. As soon as I dug in, the sauce spread to the crunchy noodles, instantly rendering them soggy. The vegetable spring rolls were awesome, especially with the sweet & spicy dipping sauce. Chopstick-licking good :) I think I will give this restaurant another try, but will likely order something else, like pho or rice soup next time.
(3)
Mei L.
Snails. Lobster. SOFT SHELL CRAB!!! What more can you ask for? Perhaps decent Pho at a Vietnamese restaurant. Does Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant deliver? the answer would be...a resounding YES! YES! YES! The broth tastes as it should...FLAVORFUL!!! The portions are huge. The large was more than I could handle. Order #101 if it is your first time eating Pho. The waiters are great as well. Your water cup will never run dry. Very attentive staff. Come try this joint if it's your first time trying Vietnamese food or if you are a tried and true Pho fan. Either way, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Courtney B.
I always enjoy the food here and the service! Just an FYI this is a place where you are sitting very close to your neighboring tables. I can never remember the names of my entrees but I can recommend the spring rolls and thai iced tea. One weird minus is the location of the bathroom (basically in the kitchen/waiter area).
(4)
Zake S.
Killer. Love the mango shake of course. Everything is tasty and the wait-staff take good care of you.
(5)
Johan W.
This place didn't do it for us. High ratings but both the pho or curry didn't have much flavor.
(2)
Sovanny B.
Pretty good everything. I come here when I want cheap Asian foods.
(4)
Denise W.
$7 for the extra large bowl of pho and when they say extra large, they really mean EXTRA LARGE! The bowl was so humongous that even the two elderly Chinese guys sitting next to us made comments to each other about how big the it was (that's what she said). It's very reassuring when your hot food greets you with a face full of steam. I took a quick sip of the soup and discovered that it was very weak for a pho broth. It tasted more like a light broth you would typically use for chicken or seafood soups. I added my standard pho condiments: basil leaves, bean sprouts, lime juice, and extra jalapenos to make up for the weak broth. Obviously, Sriracha and hoisin sauce were added too. There were a lot of delicious cuts of meat, considering the price of the meal. Very generous with the beef tendons and brisket. It took what seemed like forever to make even a small impact on the bowl of soup. I was there for the long run to finish this beast! Thankfully, there was enough meat, Sriracha sauce, and hoisin sauce to balance out the bland flavour of the rice noodles. I managed to finish most of the meat and noodles, leaving mostly broth in my bowl. Service was average: it took a while to get a menu and a take-out container when we were finished. They did refill our waters regularly though. Generally with Asian restaurants, you don't go for the service, you go for the cheap eats!
(3)
Angie K.
Cheap, quick, delicious. Nothing spectacular, but solidly decent all around. GET THE RAW BEEF DISH! raw beef+lime juice+peanuts+fish sauce = :)))) Pho, vermicelli bowls (bun) are safe. Was not a fan of the chicken curry, though.
(4)
Matt P.
My favorite pho place, $6.25 for big bowl of noodles and cow parts.
(5)
David C.
Honestly, this place blows every other Pho restaurant I've ever been to out of the water. To go anywhere else is a mistake. It's hard to believe that I could ever be unable to finish a bowl of pho, but the XL bowl is so big and portions of meat so generous that I have yet to polish off an entire serving. Not much else to say. Randomly, they are closed on Wednesdays. If you want pho on a wednesday, you should save your appetite for Thursday - don't go somewhere else.
(5)
Brian D.
I'm not a Pho expert. I do know that they make it better than I would. I usually grab the Veg Pho and I think that it is suitable. For 5 bucks a ton of broth, noodles, lime, basil, sprouts, mixed green veggies etc. I dislike the chewey rubbery tofu strips so I don't put them in my soup. Tiny dirty place, but it's Philly Chinatown no surprises there. I said 5 bucks.
(3)
Nate T.
Went there 30 minutes before closing. Had a great pho tai nam that came out in a few minutes. Inexpensive and delicious. I'll be back.
(5)
Danny K.
The food here is awesome My family like to come here lot Great food Vietnamese and Thai foods.
(5)
Jung K.
My favorite pho place! I've been coming here for Pho and Vietnamese dishes for 10+ years - consistent throughout! Cheap beers/drinks, and casual. Also much closer than 11th and Washington and the prices are also very cheap. The service isn't stellar, but that's not it's known for. Would highly recommend the clams in black bean sauce, fried spring rolls, and of course - the Pho. Must try for first-timers!
(5)
Brooke S.
Good soup, good price, nothing fancy. My go-to spot for Pho.
(4)
Joseph S.
Pho @ Xe Lua is great! I'd recommend it highly. The portions are very large, the prices cheap, and the quantity of meat is very generous. I believe it was $6 for a large bowl and $7 for an extra large. The brisket here tastes amazing and it is cut into large pieces. And lastly, if you end up ordering the shrimp spring roll appetizer, here's a tip. Mix in a fair amount of sriracha into the peanut sauce before eating! It can be a little packed there, but service is so quick, they always find room to accommodate you (there is extra seating upstairs). The only real downside would be parking. It can be hard to find street parking, but the place gives a discount if you park @ one of the garages. Just show your ticket to the owner of the restaurant and he'll stamp or mark it.
(5)
Kerry A.
Hadn't been here in awhile and happened to be at a meeting in town and ventured in for lunch. I have never had a bad meal here. I love trying different soups (they have an extensive menu). Wanted spicy, so went with the Bun Bo Hue. Fantastic, though you have to be forewarned: gets its great flavor from trotters ... yup, that would be pigs feet ! The pieces of fatty brisket are yummy and abundant ! And it packs a kick. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because I'm comparing it to a number of other favorite Viet places and it doesn't quite surpass some of the others that I rate a 5. Service is very quick and the prices are fantastic ! Great Thai Iced Tea and Cafe Su Da !
(4)
Olesya P.
After reading reviews, I decided to come here with my boyfriend. It was such a disappointment. I ordered pot fried frog and my boyfriend filet mignon. Place looks so nasty, dirty. Service was bad also. The price is too much for the things you get. We waited really long, and when we got food, it looked ok, but tasted horrible. Frog was full of fat and some weird spices. My boyfriend thought that it was not enough food at all. It was enough for me. NO WAY I AM COMING BACK THERE. Also, there a lot of weird people, some dirty workers, I was scared that my purse will be stolen.
(2)
Kathryn L.
LOVE. Best menu options are summer rolls, pad thai, curry chicken, and, of course, the pho. My tummy normally can't handle all the sauce and MSG of Chinese restaurants, but the pad thai and curry chicken suit me just fine. Have been going here for years, and it will forever be a favorite.
(5)
James K.
I really enjoy coming here because the price is really cheap. I am in love with their BBQ pork chops because it is so damn good. I literally ordered the BBQ pork chops the last 4/5 times I came here. I highly recommend it! The other time I ordered a steak pho which was surprisingly good. The broth was flavorful and delicious. I would also recommend the summer rolls with the peanut sauce for an appetizer if you're ever with someone because it comes out quick and it's easy to share. The service here is really quick and it can get a bit packed in here, but they also have a upstairs dining area if there's not enough seating downstairs. The waiters are usually friendly and just take our orders, they don't make much small talk.
(4)
Jessica H.
my FAVORITE pho in all of philly HUGE portions for really cheap!! fried rice is also huge, and really delicious. bubble tea is really good too..try the lychee!
(5)
Joanna T.
The pho alone is definitely five star worthy. But the rest of the menu is mediocre, nothing you couldn't find elsewhere (and of better quality) but the pho is rely one of the best in the city. And it's super cheap!
(4)
Jennifer M.
The place I go for pho in Chinatown! Named the Choo Choo or the train, this is where we go. All the time. Big bowls of delicious broth, lots of noodles and meat. Number 106 for me! It's always crowded but servers (different ones taking your order, giving you water, clearing plates, and giving you the bill) do their best to make sure you get what need! Don't think we've ever waited any more than 5 minutes to get a table. Nice!
(4)
Will C.
#204 Choo Choo serves up a cheap, mean bowl of pho. For $6, you too can also have a big bowl of pho with the tastiest, processed beef balls in all of Chinatown. The broth is really flavorful, not greasy, and the noodles were al-dente. As with any cuisine, order something you know you'll love. For me, that does not involve tripe, tendon, or squid. I did not detect any MSG. For real, this bowl of pho just pisses over all the pho I've had in DC. This bowl of pho with lotsa balls has made me a believer. Bar downstairs. More tables upstairs for big groups or private gatherings. Quick service. However, our waiter kinda got mixed up with our party's massive order. They do accept credit cards, but I believe it's a $15 minimum.
(4)
Elizabeth P.
This place draws a crowd, but that doesn't keep them from offering speedy service. Think their noodle soups are tasty -- broth is flavorful and I like how their noodles are... chewy (for a lack of better word). Like most restaurants in Chinatown, food is cheap and the portions are big. Good place to go to if you're craving pho. Also, if you're looking for good hangover food, I'd seek this place out.
(4)
Margo K.
Thank you Philadelphia for making me well-versed enough in pho to speak on the greatness of this establishment. Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai is my new favorite place to get pho. A friend of a friend swears by this place, so after trying many others, I tried to come here a couple weeks ago, but it was too packed to get a table. I returned a bit after 5 on a Friday, and had no trouble getting a table for two. First of all, Pho Xe Lua has the best dining atmosphere - over all other places to get pho in Philadelphia. Their menu is bigger than a lot of the other spots as well. You can also order alcoholic beverages or a bubble tea to suit your tastes. Service is super quick and pretty friendly. The pho...great meat quality, tasty noodles, cheap, and decent size. Perfect. This spot deserves to be my default pho restaurant!
(4)
Nico L.
This place is worth to walk up to 30 minutes for. The prices are ridiculously cheap. I can get a full meal under $10 and that includes a beer. The pho, hand drawn. From my understanding, it is the only place in Philly that hand draws all of their own noodles. Every thing is quick and ready to go in. And the portions are massive! No place else I'd go for pho.
(5)
Matthew L.
Cheap. Fast. Filling. No real complaints. 4 stars! This is my preferred pho location in Chinatown. Bowls are $6-$7 and are quite filling. They also have some nice beef carpaccio, and some sugarcane, minced shrimp, BBQ chicken noodle combos which are really enjoyable. Prices are par for Chinatown. Certainly not a particularly attractive place to eat but seems clean enough. Service is fairly quick and food is delivered from the kitchen within 10 minutes of ordering. I think they are closed on Tuesdays? Pho! Nomnomnom. Cheers.
(4)
Deann M.
I finally pried myself away from Pho Cali long enough to try another Vietnamese place in the area, recommended by several of my friends. This place was cheaper and had bigger portions, however the pork chop I had was thinner and more fatty than Pho Cali. The Vietnamese Iced Coffee is brewed fresh on the table, that is pretty neato. I still have yet to try the pho... there was a triple-digit heat index today but it seemed every other table was still eating the pho! How can you guys eat soup on a day like this?? I will definitely return to this place, the food was delicious and the service was fast. There was a team of waiters who attentively took plates away and refilled water.
(4)
Erin H.
Best pho in Philadelphia! I'll admit I'm a little gunshy when eating in Chinatown but this place is delicious! Broth is tasty, not too salty, always piping hot and comes out super fast. The spring rolls are great too. Plus you can't beat the price. Only reason for giving a 4 is ambiance. Very cramped and in definite need of a renovation
(4)
Keang H.
This place is quantity over quality. The portion size at this place is unbelievable and the prices are so low they don't seem to correspond. When I go here, I'm thinking I want a small soup to start with. For less than $4, I order what I think will be an appetizer sized soup, but instead I am served a gigantic bowl of meat, broth and veggies. . .not that I'm complaining. The menu is very diverse and has things that I have never seen before, but they seem to have a way of cooking things differently here. I've tried their common Asian dishes and the flavor is just. . . .different. It is not necessarily bad, but not necessarily good either. The best thing on the menu is the seafood noodle soup. When I go to a restaurant, I usually like to order something different every time, but the first time I had the seafood noodle soup, I couldn't stop thinking about it. It has resulted in me ordering it at almost every subsequent visit. This probably has something to do with my soup obsession. The broth is unbelievably flavorful, topped with a combination of seafood and then finished with the traditional condiments of lime, mints, culantro, etc. Something about this dish makes it so much better than any other seafood noodle soup I've ever had. Despite the inconsistent quality, I have a way of returning to not so good places because they lure me in with their quantity size. I plan on going back again and again, but I probably won't like it, unless I'm there for the seafood noodle soup.
(3)
Patrick M.
Without a doubt the best Pho Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Noodle) in Chinatown Philadelphia...could be argued as the best in the city. Their Sinh to Bo (Avocado Shake) is borderline heavenly and it is the ultimate compliment to a wonderful traditional Vietnamese lunch/dinner. We have tried many of their Pho options and the overall experience, friendliness of the staff, and price friendly menu keeps us as repeat customers. My girlfriend is pleased with their veggie friendly options. Highly recommended!
(5)
Yucong W.
Very good broth!
(4)
Xu L.
Pho Xe Lua is a great place if you want something good and cheap and fast at the same time. Def one of the best in Chinatown. Always try new things, especially the appetizers. You will be surprised. Pho (noodle soup) and broken rice platters are their known dishes. But don't forget to try their Rainbow Ice on their drinks menu. Just such a nice presentation and taste. The restaurant has not been remodeled for a while. But for the price of the food, I won't complain!
(5)
Karen Y.
vermacelli with bbq beef and bbq shrimp was decent, though a bit on the plain side for me. fine for me since i was sharing with my son who is not a fan of spicy food. however, the portions are tiny compared to what i am used to getting in so cal. the fried egg rolls were tasty (at least from what i could tell from my 2-year old who devoured it on the spot- crunchy wrapper first). service was sweet and attentive, but i don't think i would come running back the next time i had a craving for vietnamese.
(3)
Isabelle J.
I've been to a plethora of pho places, eaten many bowls of delicious pho, and I've found many that I like and would go back over to eat over again. But... this was not one of those places. As always when I first go to a pho restaurant, I get the special pho. At this place, I didn't find the broth to be very savory, and I am allllll about the broth. I found myself needing to add a lot of sriracha to make it taste a little bit saltier and sweeter. I also usually love the tendon and the tripe in the soup, but they didn't give me very much of that--it was just a lot of noodles... a little bit too much noodles and not much of real gems! Overall, I just found the pho to be eh, one-dimensional.
(2)
Jerry M.
Good food for a basic menu. Lots. Could have shared mine with someone. Service adequate and fast. Clean. I'd come back. Easy to find. It's the first restaurant on Race in Chinatown.
(4)
Kate N.
Yelp has failed me this time. I went to philly to get some authentic Vietnamese food. NOT chinese vietnamese food, that I can get anywhere in NYC. Everything was just mediocre. I only spent a day there, and am very diappointed that I chose this for my dinner.
(2)
Monica S.
My friends and I came here for tonight's dinner and started off with the obvious must haves: a Mexican Margarita and a Singapore Sling. They served us the Margarita with two Sapporo's instead. My friend asked about the Sling and the waiter simply shook his head "no..." Puzzled, we began to feast on our 19 appetizers: garlic shrimp, Chinese greens, Vietnamese sausage, summer rolls, Papaya steak salad washed down with a steaming bowl of delicious pho. As we slurped the last bit down, and patted our bellies good night, the Sling arrived. It tasted like someone had liquefied orange Starburts and blended them in a boot. But what can you expect from a cocktail menu where all drinks are $4 and club soba is listed in the beer section?
(3)
Joe L.
My first trip in. I had the Vietnamese version of Carpaccio (sliced then beef raw cured with lime juice) that was Fantastic. Also had a whole live crab cooked in a very interesting way. This was messy and cumbersome to eat but had a delicious flavour. Great service. If your server doesn't speak or understand English very well, there is always a someone helpful near.
(4)
Debbie G.
This place meets all my criteria for a place I will come back to again and again: Has an eclectic menu - always something new to try (i.e. snails or sugarcane shrimp, yum!) Serves alcamahol - (unlike some of the other pho places near by) Would definitely categorize it as a 'cheap eats' - for under 30 bucks my husband and I stuffed ourselves plenty AND had 2 rounds of drinks! Fast and efficient service - never had to sit and wonder when i would be getting my food even when it's been pretty crowded there THE best PHO in town! Love love. love this place - if you are a viet food lover, don't miss out! (oh yeah, and they serve thai dishes as well)
(5)
Michael W.
With a nice weekend trip to Philly, I was honestly craving for some Pho. While strolling down through Chintown, Pho Xe Lua peaked my interest. Being originally from California, I've definitely had some pho during my time so I'm coming in here with some expectations. Just walking in and doing a quick glance through, this place definitely looked like a legit pho restaurant. From the plastic utensils, the cheap tables, and authentic smell, these were green flags, and I was ready to go! Now the prices here are pretty legit too. $5.95 for a regular bowl, and $6.95 for a truly large bowl. I mean, that bowl is gigantic, so if you're really really hungry, then opt for the large. I went ahead and ordered the usual #1 combination bowl of pho with all your typical fixings like tripe, brisket, tendon, etc. Now when my pho came and I took a sip of the broth, I was sadly underwhelmed. The broth was decent, but it didn't have a blast of flavor that I was expecting. To be honest, it was even a little on the bland side. To compound that, it was a little lukewarm, which isn't always the best with soup. As far as the toppings are concerned, they were all there, but there was like 1-2 pieces of each ingredient. I kind of expected there to be more meat, but I guess that comes with the large bowl? The noodles were spot on though. Nice and chewy and cooked to perfection. But even so, that's not enough to save the total package. Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai, your name is so legit for a pho restaurant, but the pho is actually a little underwhelming. Perhaps you had an off day, or perhaps you just really like serving underwhelming pho. At least your prices are legit enough that I can't stay mad at you forever.
(3)
Sherry T.
One of my favorite spots to get pho when in Chinatown. It's inexpensive and quick service.
(4)
Carol C.
BEST pho in Chinatown! The broth is one of the better broths i've ever had! AND the extra large bowl is EXTRA FREAKING LARGE. Also, they have so many servers standing around, you are bound to get as much attention as you ask for. I asked for extra lemons and I almost had three servers walk away to get some.
(5)
Sachit B.
This is a typicaI china town restaurant and we cant expect good ambience. Always crowded. I usually give points mainly for quality and taste of food. The broth was very flavorful and the meat very tender and fresh. We love their fruit juices and bubble teas.
(5)
Pete S.
Arguably the best Pho restaurant in Philadelphia's Chinatown; the Pho in Chinatown isn't great to begin with. Washington Ave is a drive away if you're looking for something slightly better. The place itself was like any standard Pho restaurant; cheap tables, small cramped spaces, etc. I ordered a large bowl which was two dollars extra from the regular bowl at ~$6. Food came out quickly and the servers provided refills of tea and water quickly. Overall, service was pretty good. They also listened to our request of steaming up the bean sprouts. For the Pho itself, it was average across the board. I needed to put a good amount of "extra" ingredients to get it where I wanted. For the price and the service I couldn't complain though. I'd gladly go back again, but it may not hit the spot for some of you Pho aficionados.
(3)
Melissa W.
This place is pretty good. I'd give it 3.5 stars. The filet mignon in lemongrass sauce (~$13) is SUPER tasty (the extra half a star is for this dish alone) and comes cooked with bell peppers, onions, and other such vegetables so it at least feels a little healthy. The pork chop over rice was standard. Kind of plain and a bit gristly, but portions were large. The pho looked fine. Prices are decent and they give you a lot of food. Not a bad option if you're starving, don't want to spend a ton of money, and happen to be in the area.
(3)
Phynix N.
I've been going to this place since I was a child and I still love going here to eat all the time! If anyone says "Let's going to choo choo's!" you know that you're going to have awesome food for awesome prices! I always go for the seafood noodle soup and so much more! :)
(4)
S L.
I just had a very satisfying dinner here for under $10! They offer two sizes of pho (large and extra-large). I went with the Pho with Beef and Tendon in the smaller size, and it was huge! There was plenty of soup, noodles and meat. In my bowl, I had over 10 slices of beef and several large chunks of tendon. I also got the Avocado Smoothie. O-M-G. SO GOOD. Super creamy, sweet and seriously amazing. At $3, it was an absolute steal. It reminded me of the avocado smoothies I used to get in boba shops in California (for no less than $5). Food came out within 5 minutes of ordering.
(5)
Erin B.
I often get depressed on Wednesdays when I realize that the Train is closed and I'm craving one of their dishes. There are just so many amazing things to order, that aren't even necessarily on the menu. When "off-road" ordering at the Train, I go for the Sate (sp?) clams or the Clam Pho in spicy broth. (Clearly I have a thing for clams). This is also a great place to host a large family style dinner for a number of guests - in the past we've ordered the stuffed tofu, ginger/scallion lobster and crab. Non-chinatowners are always very impressed by that selection. They also make amazing shakes - and when dining in, just one ask from the waiter and you can turn your normally healthy and delicious strawberry shake into an even more delicious strawberry daquiri w/ a shot of rum! Oh favorite Chinatown restaurant - what would I do w/o thee?
(5)
Ting N.
First time here. I ordered Pho and a dish. PROS: -Fast. Fast. Fast. I ordered it and the wait time was less than 5 minutes. The place was not crowded, but there were around 6 tables that were eating and around 3 waiting on food. -The food was great, and for a very good price. It filled me up so quick that I was dumbfounded. CONS: -None OVERALL: The outside may look a bit "shady" but the food inside is wonderful!
(5)
Amy L.
The service is fast. The prices are cheap. A typical Vietnamese restaurant in Philly. Parking is hard in the area since Chinatown parking is hard.
(3)
John L.
If anyone ever touches my Choo Choo, I will rage like the star wars kid on you! The only complaint, and its the ONLY one is that this place isn't open 24/7. Because if it was, I'd bring my toothbrush, blanket, and set up upstairs... Away from the customers... OBVIOUSLY! I go there all the time with my wife, and each time is better than the next. Their Pho is basically a mini swimming pool, if a swimming pool was a hot steaming cauldron of fatty marrow, sublime chicken broth, and accompanied by your standard Pho fare. But what makes this place stand out to me is the variety of other good food that is on the menu, so let me start on those. First, there is coconut snails. O sweet lord, that is ultimate beer drinking food. You get that with some 333 or Tiger beer? O man every time I'm there it reminds me of my youth. Not that I drink when I was young... at all... ever. Then there is the Papaya salad, holy crap that is just the best when accompanied with the beer. This is a place that defines happiness, from the families that sits around and talks about their day. To the older couple with their grandchildren enjoying each other at the round table. To the cute high school or college couple who are awkwardly trying to feel each other out on the first date. To the couple like myself and my wife who are just getting drunk in the corner, well ok I'm getting drunk and my wife is getting high off the food. This place is the best place for everything Vietnamese.
(5)
Zack G.
This is my favorite Pho place in Philly right now. The Pho is good, doesn't really WOW me but the drink menu! oh the drink menu!. the drinks are categorized by liqueur. Up and down for each the price is the same. So their top shelf scotch is the same as their rail scotch. You just can't get that anywhere else. Also get started with a spring role, those are great and super refreshing, especially with the peanut sauce.
(5)
LaDonna M.
Went here after a day in the city with my boyfriend. We both ordered pho of course and absolutely loved it. The food came out very quickly and hot. The bean sprouts and other assorted pho additives were very fresh, which isn't always the case in restaurants.
(4)
Joanne A.
Huge portions!!! The XL bowl is only $6.50-ish, so filling and hearty, and they are generous with the sliced meat. They also give lots of lime slices, basil, and bean sprouts. Broth is delicious as usual. I love that it's in the heart of chitown and I can walk right over for bubble tea afterwards (only if I get the large sized bowl will I have space for bbtea) Only cons: unfortunately, the meat was a little thicker cut than I like it to be and the spring rolls I had last time tasted like they had been sitting out for a while.
(4)
Kelly C.
we're all aware of the pho from this place. but the other night, i wanted rice, so i ordered the curry chicken rice platter. it was surprisingly delicious! it came out fast, which was good b/c i was REALLY hungry. AND the curry was creamy with the sweet taste of coconut! simply perfect. the best part was? It was only $5.50!!! seriously cannot beat that. One of the best comfort meal i've found recently. I will be back, not for pho, but for some rice and curry :)
(4)
Abelle N.
I haven't had pho in years!!! Omg this place is awesome!!! Love the atmosphere... They seated me all the way in the back which I didn't like cause its like right by the kitchen but whatever at least the food was on point... I order two apps... papaya salad and crispy veggies spring rolls ...the papaya salad they didn't give me enough sauce so it was a little dry other then that it was fine...the crispy egg rolls was yummy ...two entrees... Which were pho Mac and pork chop over rice...the pho mac i order had three types of beef loaded with veggies.... I order the medium but it looked like a large bowl of pho gosh ...i wonder how big the large pho would be after seeing my pho ...yums! This place makes the best pho!! I defiantly would come back for that if i didn't live so far...The pork chop over rice was pretty good but the portion of the meat was pretty small they put imitation crab meat with eggs on the side which is kinda weird but whatever lol ...all that food cost around 15 bucks!! I think that was pretty awesome with all the food I order came out to 15 bucks!
(5)
Calvius W.
This place can be hard to find but well worth the china town trip. I come here when I am sick and need a hot bowl of pho to the face. My favorite is the seafood tom yum soup. Its loaded with jumbo shrimp, mussels, fish patties, and imitation crab. First I load it up with all the fresh herbs and bean sprouts they provide you. I then put two spoons of spicy red sauce. Finally I try to eat it as hot in temperature as I can stand and like magic my sinuses and nasal passages are completely cleared. I have also tried the shrimp roll appetizer, chicken vermicelli with shrimp stick, and the classic beef pho. All of which are excellent. The time from when you place your order until your meal is ready is fast (usually within 10 minutes). The service is ok considering that only two staff members speak broken English. The rest can speak a few words. I always have to ask for extra napkins and this can be a challenge sometimes. They also have a cheap full bar menu if you want to get your drink on. Best of all are the prices and serving sizes. For 6 bucks you can have enough food to feel completely satisfied and have enough to bring home for another meal. What prevents this place from a 5 star review is some cleanliness issues (like the bathroom), the cramped feel, and the fluorescent lighting inside can be unpleasant. Overall definitely give it a try, especially during the winter or if your nasal passages are stuffed.
(4)
Lisa M.
Exploring Chinatown and no clue where to eat with the only requirement from my bf was "Vietnamese food". Yelp came to the rescue which is how we discovered and tried Pho "choo choo" Xe Lua Viet Thai. The menu was huge, almost to the point where we were overwhelmed and had no idea where to start. I got a mango milkshake with a rice dish with lemongrass chicken and spring roll. (#219) is all I remember. My bf got a regular size bowl of Pho with beef in it. Which was HUGE. My bf's brother got a seafood dish that he said tasted like a bait shop. So I guess it was really seafoody. Food was extremely filling and relatively inexpensive. It was an experience but I don't think its a place that I would die to go back too.
(3)
Diana K.
Just learned that this place has a name other than "Choo Choo" as I have always lovingly known it. This restaurant has replaced Pho 75 (R.I.P.) as my neighborhood Pho joint. They also are great for vermicilli dishes, which are my favorite Vietnamese food! It has a hole-in-the-wall vibe, but service is quick, prices are low, and you will always leave happy and full. :)
(4)
SC V.
Excellent food! Definitely my new place for when I have an unnameable craving. The Raw Flank Steak with lime is my new perfect food. Although the ambiance is that of a mobile home, it could do well to change the lighting, the ugly linoleum floor and perhaps go with a moody earth tone throughout.
(4)
Adrienne C.
Good egg rolls, liked the shrimp cracker egg/rice noodle combo, but thought the broth was just ok. Huge portions, but Nam Phuong is still my go-to for pho.
(3)
Kemi A.
OMG do I NOT like vietnamese food? I don't know. I think I ordered some interesting things. I went with a friend who is veggie and I was disappointed that they didn't have much veggie options for her. No appetizers. They have a small section in the back of the menu. The waitstaff recommend she get the only soup that was veggie and when it arrived (in a LARGE bowl) it looked soo tasteless and it indeed was not tasteful. I did appreciate their large portions tho. She got an entree that was much tastier tho. I got the shrimp (cold) spring roll appetizer. I enjoyed the peanut sauce but I must admit I lost interest in the shrimp roll when I spied the shit?/vein? of the shrimp all wrapped in the wrap and visable thru the thin skin of the roll wrapper. I mean I know shrimps have veins in them but shouldn't that be cleaned out? and should you try to NOT have it show (if u don't take the time to devein it?) I didn't eat the second roll because I was just like ECK..I don't know what I'm eating. I ordered vermicelli with like a mixture of stuff. But seriously after that shrimp spring roll event, I was kinda skeptical of everything after that. I felt I was eating "mystery meat" and i was not comfy. I don't think i would come back to order again. I'll just go to the burmese place up the block.
(3)
Peng X.
Great pho and pad thai. I have tried many asian restaurants but Pho Xe Lua is the one I coming back to. The service is great as they always have an entire staff of waiters working around all hours. The food is very inexpensive, comes in huge portions, and is as good as them come. Highly recommended!
(5)
Nicole W.
I'll keep it simple. If you haven't been here yet: You Are Ca-razy! This place is awesome. I would give it 5 stars if the service wasn't so hit or miss, but I love love love all the food I've had here. From the Pho to the Vermicelli to the bangin ass rice dishes. You just can't go wrong with pretty much any dish here. My favorites: 1. Vegatable Spring Rolls 2.Pho Tai, Nam Gan 3. Bun Bo Nuong 4. Com Suon, Bi, Cha Chung Be a fatty and get them all. It's just that awesome. That ish cray!
(4)
Stefanie A.
When in Chinatown do not pass by the "choo choo" restaurant that is named something I can never remember. Why? The menu is vast, including excellent pho, noodle dishes, and apps, the food is inexpensive, it's real and it's spectacular. Other pluses: Service is quick, it's byo, and you never have to wait too long. Their shredded chicken soup is my stand by when sick... Or well. Enjoy!
(5)
K. A. N. A. K.
I would consider this place to be perfectly lunch-casual, but my boyfriend contemplates eating here anytime, everyday. The waiters was attentive and the service was fast. I got chicken pho; the chicken was so tender (despite the hot broth) and the noodles were superior in texture. The banh cuon is listed as an appetizer, but there is enough to be a meal. Go here often.
(5)
Saeed A.
I am giving them 3 stars, as I have been to few better places for Thai food in nyc and even in philly . These folks are average !
(3)
Anonymous P.
This place is good and you can feed 4 people for $40. Many variations of pho soup and bubble tea. I enjoy this quaint local eatery on a very cold day.
(5)
Amy H.
This recently has been my go to place got pho in Chinatown Philly. I esp like their Spring Roll and the viet coffee is an absolute to die for. Their service is ok. The price is very fair, the only thing I suggest is that you stay with their large and not go xtra large since it's only really increase in broth so save yourself so extra dollar. All in all, I still always hit Chew Chew (most people in the area know this place as Chew Chew) whenever I'm on pho mood. I encourage you to try this place when you are on pho mood!can't beat the price!
(4)
Meredith B.
This is my "legit" spot in chinatown. This is my spot I head to when I'm with someone that is down for a quality authentic time. The hidden gem of the menu is 512 Bo Tai Chanh - raw fresh flank steak with lime juice. Think carpaccio.
(4)
Andrew L.
friendly waiters...awesome food....5-10min for food. basically it's the best hot pho in chinatown
(5)
Anny Y.
Every Vietnamese restaurant we venture to, the true test will be the beef cubes entree. Once we must try the beef cube, it will determine the type of establishment we are dealing with. We will rate the taste, texture, beef quality and how chewy it is. I must say, it was OKAY, maybe 6.5 out of 10. Not the best I had before. Vietnamese restaurant is known for the pho - vermicelli noodle soup. It is a must have because you cannot go wrong with it. The broth was hot enough for the raw bean sprout to cook and added mint flavor will help. Unbelievably, Philadelphia chinatown is quite popular out of the New York City venues. I will go back again to try the karaoke, and hot pots that I saw when I passed by.
(3)
Lilli M.
Stellar (meaning very low) prices, generous portion sizes, and speedy service. Oh, plus $2 Thai iced tea! I got vermicelli with BBQ pork and meat on a sugar cane stick and pork balls, I think, for $6.95. And that's if you get the "upgrade" from the standard $5.95 vermicelli, which already seems to have a lot of goodies included. The pho is $5.95 (large) or $6.95 (x-large) - guess there's no size small for the pho. There's additional seating upstairs. This place was packed when we came on a Saturday night, though it was past standard dinner hour. I would definitely come back in the future for a generous-sized meal you can get for well under $10.
(4)
Lianna N.
Last night I went to Pho Xe Lua for dinner because the bf was craving some chao long (or rice porridge with meat and innards)- a dish that has been hard to find in Philly since moving here all those years ago. I could make it myself, but then we would be stuck with a whole pot...and sometimes you just need a bowl to be satisfied. I was wary of the "fusion" aspect of the restaurant because I typically dislike asian places that try to do multiple cuisine. A lot of the time it ends up half@$$ for both or (shudder) all three types that they try to encompass. The restaurant was lively, and there were a lot of diners having dinner- good sign. We ordered eggrolls, they came out steaming hot and delicious, also another good sign. I ordered the the grilled pork rice platter (com suong nuong), which is a fairly typical order for me and I have tried it at many of the different vietnamese places around philly. Much to my dismay, the rice was mushy, the pork floss was bland, and the pork cut that I got was fatty and also lacking flavor. The chao long had all the essential ingredients, but also bland. When you make rice porridge, there are lots of different types (chicken, fish, etc) but when you make that type you cook the meat in the rice porridge. In this restaurant'scase, bc they had multiple types and prob to make it easier for themselves, my guess is that they made a plain porridge pot (no flavor) and add in the meat of the type you order. Overall, neither of us were pleased with our meal choice. I dont think I will be back here anytime soon.
(2)
Alyssa R.
Not going to lie, when I walked into this restaurant for the first time I was like where am I? But it is sooo good! I have converted all my friends to going here. First off, the menu is extensive. They pretty much have anything you can think of. And everything I have ever had is amazing. And it is sooo reasonable! I always get the shrimp pad thai, i think it is around 10 or so dollars. It is sooo big, it is enough for two people for sure. Also they have really cheap drinks. Like $4 wines. I love to come here before going out, or for just a random night in china town. There really is no ambiance, but with food this good and this cheap it doesnt matter!
(5)
Elizabeth D.
Their pho, rice platters and spring rolls are very good. Their staff is friendly. Give this place a try if your in the area.
(5)
Martin W.
Well doing the Race Street crawl as I spy-ed my phone as to the place with the most amount of stars this place was it. Really did not disappoint and the place was really not busy on a Friday afternoon. Had the Spring Rolls which were cut in pieces and covered in chopped peanuts. Overall not bad could have used more lettuce and they only serve 3, at most other places they come in four pieces. The Pho was quite yummy very nice broth with a nice amount of meat, I had the big bowl. V V Good! As a kicker my friend and I decided on the Iced Vietnamese Coffee it was quite good.
(4)
Sally W.
I was hoping the Pho would be better than Pho in NYC but it wasn't in Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant in Philly. I had mine plain with no bean sprouts and no basil. Part of it is allergy problems and part is bean sprouts can taste too muddy sometimes for me or tastes like it is not fresh. Not sure if that is the same taste because I don't like the taste of raw bean sprouts. I'll explain why...my bf took all the bean sprouts and poured it into his soup. He noticed how funny it tasted to a point where he could not finish his soup. He thought his soup was tasting odd. I told him because it's the bean sprouts. I was right. He said they didn't clean the sprouts. EUW. He said he saw the shells/hulls falling off all the sprouts when he put it into the soup. He thinks the restaurant didn't clean the sprouts by soaking them in clean water. Euw they served dirty sprouts. That is disgusting. I thought my soup was blah and so was my meat. I had higher expectations for Pho in Philly because everyone says Pho in NYC is bad..okay it's not that great in Philly so far either. I spilled tea by accident and the waiter who was standing behind me did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Wow. Bad service. If you drink alcohol, they serve alcohol at this Pho joint!
(2)
Anne K.
The first time I came here, I was told that we going to Choo Choo's for some pho - which I thought was a strange (but very cute!) name for a Vietnamese restaurant. Then I saw the little train on their sign and had a real "ohhhh" moment. Reasonably-priced, hearty bowls of pho and speedy, no nonsense service is what makes Choo Choo's a place to come back to time and time again. Pho is easy to find in Philly, but Choo Choo's definitely serves up some of the best bowls in the area.
(4)
megan a.
This is the place everyone affectionately refers to as 'Choo choo' bc there's a train on the restaurant sign outside. You don't go here for the ambience; it's all about the food and it's amazing.
(5)
Tim D.
This is the go-to place for Pho in the Center City area. The portions are huge, and a very large bowl of Pho with the complimentary green tea and my other staple - 2 summer rolls with Shrimp - is barely $10. Unfortunately, they are closed on Wednesdays so keep that in mind or you will be forced to get your Pho fix elsewhere which has not worked out for me in the city of Brotherly love.
(5)
Bien H.
Although being a pho place, Pho Xe Lua doesn't meet my expectation at all (just fyi i'm vietnamese). The broth is not there yet, it lacks a deep 'umami' flavor, thus it tasted more like pork broth rather than beef broth- you can almost see how light-colored it is. The well-done flank is more chewy than at other standard places. Otherwise, I would give five star for other dished I have tried such as Bun Thit nuong, Bun bo hue and Hu tieu do bien Thai Lan. They were all on point especially the Bun Bo Hue. The service is just sufficient like other vietnamese places; and it's very cheap compared to other vietnamese places. I would come back, but not for the pho.
(4)
Liam E.
I really love the Atmosphere at this place. When I come to Chinatown I want it to feel like I'm in Chinatown, and this place does not disappoint. And they Certainly don't disappoint with the Pho here. The broth has a good ginger taste that is almost sweet, but doesn't go overboard. The meat is good and the food comes out in minutes. I love that they have fish tanks up front with live crabs and stuff in them. Cause as I said I want to feel like I'm in Chinatown. My only knock against this place is the summer rolls we got. They seemed to be using really crappy pork but then again I only got them once. But Pho here is really tasty. And keeps me coming back. Which will be often this winter
(4)
Elliot C.
A delicious and ridiculously affordable mean. 5 of us ate (with a few drinks) for about 50 bucks. Beers were only 3 bucks which is how it should be done. I had the Pho Ga (chicken pho) because I'm a big fatty on a diet but food everyone else had looked amazing. It was a light pho but very tasty. A couple across from us had a big plate of what looked like lamb chops and some greens and some sort of fish dish. I'll be back.
(4)
Kathleen K.
After almost 300 reviews, there's probably not much I can say that hasn't already been said. Great food for cheap is pretty much what sums it up. I am no Pho expert, but I've had my fair share of bowls. This one was very good. the shrimp rolls were also very fresh and tasty. Service is incredibly fast so if you're looking for a quick and inexpensive dinner on a week night, this is your place
(4)
Tracy O.
Amazing summer rolls, amazing pho! I have dreams about the pho here. My friend brought me here over the winter for the first time and it was the perfect meal. But now that the warm weather is coming, I'm still going eat it when it's 90 degrees out and I'm sweating like an armpit
(5)
Jessica W.
Solid Pho, nothing crazy. Pretty delicious. My boyfriend got a non-pho dish was a pretty disappointed with it. But the beers were only $3 so he got over it quickly.
(3)
Tiffany N.
There's not a better place to get pho in Philly. Large portions, lots of meat. Their other dishes are great too, just like home made. Prices are reasonable, not expensive. Gets crowded and tight spaces but definitely worth it.
(5)
Christina N.
We had a weekend trip in Philly for the Made in America festival and stayed near Chinatown so we ate in the area every day. This is a typical no frills Vietnamese joint (run by Cantonese people as always). Our pho came piping hot with generous portions of beef and noodles, while prices still reflect what you'd expect - cheap! Throw a handful of bean sprouts, lime juice, sriracha, and hoisin sauce in there and BAM, you're golden. It was so delicious. Their Viet iced coffee also hit the spot.
(4)
Naomi N.
I'm really glad that I stumbled upon this place on Yelp after searching for a Philly pho joint to satisfy yet another pho craving. The prices here are very affordable and the portions are a great deal for the price. This is a pretty casual restaurant and would be the perfect place to go to catch up with friends in Chinatown while enjoying asian cuisine. Service was awkward and not that great, but the food made up for it. For an appetizer, my boyfriend and I got 3 spring rolls, which were pretty decent compared to spring rolls at other Philly restaurants. They were crispy on the outside and the pork inside was juicy and flavorful. For my main entree, I ordered the Beef & Frank Brisket Pho, while my boyfriend ordered a Rice Dish with the minced shrimp on sugarcane, BBQ pork, and spring roll. My boyfriend said that his dish was fulfilling and he really enjoyed the BBQ pork which was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Meanwhile, I was also satisfied with my pho. The broth had a lot of flavor to it and the beef was cooked the way I liked it (not overcooked or undercooked). They gave a reasonable amount of meat and noodles in proportion to the amount of broth. I ordered a large, which was $5.95, but still had to take some home to finish. This restaurant probably gets my vote on one of the top pho locations in Philly (that I've tried so far). To top everything off, I also ordered an avocado shake, which was delicious. I noticed on the menu that they had $5 cocktails and was tempted to order some, but decided to get it next time. Everything on the alcohol menu was surprisingly cheap, from cocktails to beers to wines. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and for the price, this is a great deal for broke, college students who need weekly pho fixes, like myself. Looking forward to returning and trying out some of their alcoholic drinks!
(4)
Vy D.
All aboard the Choo Choo's train whenever you're in Chinatown. Choo Choo is one of my favorite pho places in the city. It's actually the only place in Chinatown I go to for pho. At around $6 for a xlarge bowl of pho, it's the cheapest and largest bowl of pho in the Delaware Valley. If you do order the xlarge size (there's only large and xlarge bowl sizes here), be prepared for a bowl containing about a gallon of broth to be served to you, alongside a generous side dish containing sprouts, cilantro, thai basil, and jalapenos. I think the broth at Choo Choo is delicious. It is always flavorful, with a very nice balanced amount of spices. No crazy throat-drying additives in my bowl (MSG). Always a must. The other thing that I like about this place is that you won't be disappointed in the amount of noodles you're served, which I've found to be lacking at other places. Not to mention that they have the best name in all of Philadelphia. High five for the sweet name.
(4)
Drew A.
Pho Xe, Choo Choo, whatever your name is...hot damn this is some good pho! Meat, noodles, fixins and such were all standard, but the broth was some of the best I've ever had. And really, that's the most important part. 6.50 for an XL bowl with rare beef. 3.50 for a shrimp roll. Free hot tea on the table. Win. Don't be fooled by other pho places in Chinatown. Choo Choo is tops!
(5)
Sherry L.
Would give it a 0. Food quality is mediocre and the service was absolutely horrific. The cashier was disrespectful and threw things around.
(1)
Rich W.
Fe Fi Pho failure here. On my last evening in Philly we decided to get full on Pho before heading be to NYC. Using the Yelp App we chose Pho Xe Lua. We order Pho. the first thing that came out was the extras for the Pho; bean spouts, mint leaves and lemon wedges. Lemon? Yip, No lime. The bean spouts were full of the green-brown bean casing from the growing process use to grow bean spouts. Which means they did not rinsed them properly. These casing with leave a muddy taste in the Pho and the lemon did not go well with the Pho broth. the flavor was just not right. The Pho in general was just OK. Today their broth was weak, no rich & flavorful as I was hoping for. The service was sub standard, even thought there were about 6-8 waiters standing behind us with nothing to do but to chat. At the end of the meal I spill my tea by accident and was wiping up the mess. One waiter walk by and didn't even bother to help. All the other ones were busy chatting. Hope your experience is better than mine.
(2)
Ashley S.
Very good soup! I have come here a few times with friends, and we've always left stuffed and satisfied. I usually order the Tomyum seafood noodle soup which is spicy and has a Thai flavor. It is filled to the top with shrimp, squid, fish balls, mussels, and delicious rice noodles. The bowl is huge, and it takes a lot of effort to finish it. The best part is that it's less than $6! My friends rave about the beef or beef tendon Pho (I haven't tried either, but they tell me it's delicious). The last time I went, I also ordered a soursop "milkshake" for dessert. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it ended up being delicious! It had a fruity taste and was the more like shaved ice than a milkshake. My friends got the Rainbow ice, which was a shaved ice with red bean, mung bean, and jello mixed in. It sounded disgusting, but I tried a sip, and it was actually sweet and pretty good (although I don't think I'll be ordering that one in the future).
(4)
Amy T.
This place was actually recommended to e and my boyfriend by my Vietnamese roommate. We were craving Pho and she said this was one of the best places to get it. The place seemed a little strange to me in the way that it was orientated to sit, but I usually feel that way when entering an unfamiliar restaurant. The person running front of house ended up seating us at a two person table, directly next to where a table of three was sitting. Which, normally wouldn't bother me, but there was about a half inch gap between tables. We were practically dining with them. I felt very invasive of their privacy considering I could hear every bit of their conversation, and majority of the time ended up being distracted by it. It would be one thing if there were no other seats available and that is where they sat us, but there was an empty table for two one row over and no people sitting at the table next to it. Honestly, that's my only complaint. The service was quick, as was the wait for our food. We both got pho ga (chicken pho). It was delicious and the portion size was big enough for us both to split it and be full. And to top it off, the bill was only about $13 for two huge portions of food. Very delicious. Very cheap. Would definitely come back for more despite being very close to other dining patrons.
(4)
Ed L.
Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant is a small quaint Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown district of Philadelphia, that also serves Thai cuisine as well. In my unofficial quest to have Pho in all 50 States, my quest continues here in Pennsylvania. I found this place, along with a handful of other restaurants that served Pho and other Vietnamese dishes on Yelp. One of 2 off the list had a 4 star rating, so I decided to try this place after reading a few of the reviews. This place did not disappoint, clearly due to the fact of cheap Pho. Cheaper than most places that I have been to. $5.95 for a regular bowl and $6.95 for a large. Can't believe that! Only problem was that they had a $15 minimum charge for credit card payments, which sucked. I had to order 2 extra orders of shrimp rolls to round out over $15. It was annoying, but I had something to have for a late night snack later that night. Here I was having a late lunch here after seeing the sights of historic Philadelphia. Located on Race Street in Philadelphia Chinatown, you can tell this place was definitely the place to be. The set up was that of a Chinese / Vietnamese mixed. The servers and staff talked Chinese, so that was a dead give away for sure. I was here on a cool Thursday afternoon. Not much going on here and it wasn't busy at all. Just a few tables that were occupied. I was hurried a bit to the table and I hastily got the menu before the staff started to mingle about themselves and talk in Chinese. I ordered the regular sized Pho, not really wanting the large size that day. Not sure why, but that's what I did. Ordered an order of shrimp rolls and a soda initially for the meal. It was insane to see that the order of shrimp rolls were $3.00!! That's cheap!! So awesome this place, although the $15 minimum credit card thing was a bummer. I realized this after getting the bill. However, the Pho was pretty good, although the flavor could have been more refined to be sure. I wished that they don't do the watered down version of the Pho. Maybe next time it will be different. The shrimp rolls were okay. Nothing great about them, although they are certainly cheap and filling. The taste, however wasn't so much. Overall, do try this place for the inexpensiveness and you may find this place a hidden gem, like I have done. Be aware of the $15 minimum for credit card payments, as mentioned before. The place is well kept and managed. Plenty of staff to assist you and the service was okay. Fast and expedient. All you want at the price you want. Thanks Pho Xe Lua! It was a good experience. Maybe next time, I'll come back. Support local! B
(4)
Hank C.
We came back for a visit for old-times sake, and were ushered upstairs as the first floor was very busy. With a child and two others, it was good we were separate from most - we had a lot to handle keeping the little one happy. Service was sporadic as we were one of three groups upstairs initially... but it got better once more people were seated upstairs. Still.. the serving bowl looked the same, but the noodle amount seemed less... and the broth was very clear compared to the past. A healthy dose of basil, pepper, and bean sprouts was good, but I guess after having pho in other cities now, I still find myself unsatisfied with the flavor here today. Might be too much MSG in it? Left feeling super-thirsty...
(3)
Jason S.
Amazing food. Loved everything! Service was a little rude. They should train their younger waiters to be nicer and patient.
(5)
Hagana K.
So I found my Philly pho spot. Really solid pho, listened to other Yelpers and stayed away from the bun bo hue. You usually want to find a place that only does bun bo hue for that soup anyway. I'm a pretty big eater and the normal large ($5.95) was more than adequate. Almost every other pho place, I usually pay the extra dollar for the larger size, but it's completely unnecessary here. Tons of meat too. Unless you're built like a lineman, or your nursing an extreme hangover, stick with the large, not the XL. one more thing - they open at 11am, not 10am. And it was more like 11:05 am on this particular Friday. One weird thing - I went right when they opened so it was me and three other tables there. I guess the full wait staff was there and didn't have much to do, so they were just kind of standing at attention, staring at us and watching us eat. I'm sure they were just being vigilant about refilling water, but it was slightly unsettling. Not so unsettling that I didn't enjoy my soup.
(5)
Nam N.
I came here with a friend after 5 years absence from this restaurant :) The Pho was the same as i remembered; bad. The broth was bland and I can't really smell any Pho scent from it and i have sensitive nose. I still like their Bo Tai Chanh (Vietnamese Beef Carpaccio) and Bo Luc Lac (Vietnamese Shaking Beef).
(2)
Shawn B.
This place is a place that one needs to go back to, again and again. The shrimp on sugar cane was a hit with my 8 year old, and my wife and I enjoyed the mussels and summer rolls. We all had Pho, which was wonderful. Being from Portland Oregon (with a large # of Vietnamese/Thai restaurants that rock), we had been hard pressed to find a good Pho dish here. We now have found it.
(4)
Sandy C.
After a day of exploring and walking out in the rain in Philly, my friends and my stomach were calling out to us for some food. Something hot would be preferred, so we ended up here. Since my friends and I were drenched from head to toe, we've took turns and dried ourselves in the bathroom. It was awkward because the entire waitstaff likes to hangout right outside the bathroom and each of us would take about 10 minutes in the bathroom, while the hand dryer is running non-stop. The waitstaff were probably like "what the hell are these guys doing in there?" lol. Nonetheless, we've all gotten the pho since we've heard raving reviews about the broth and they were spot on. The broth here was amazing! It definitely is better than the ones I've had tried in New York. The broth here was very rich and flavorful. The food here is pretty cheap too. I wish there was a better pho place in New York and I will become their most frequent diner =)
(4)
Sarah L.
If there is anyone else on a bland diet like me, this is a good place to get your eating out fix! It gets really hard to cook every meal at home, so it's finally nice to find a place that doesn't make their food too oily, fried, or spicy. Obviously they have those options on the menu as well (my friend said the spring rolls were really good) but I just got the simple chicken with rice noodles soup (pho ga) and it was clean and delicious! The chicken slices were tender, the broth wasn't too salty/oily, and they have plenty of sprouts and extra add ins. Hopefully my stomach problems will have improved by the time I come here again - I want to try the house special next time!
(5)
Chaka H.
Amazing beef pho. Fast service, great (yet simple) space to dine. Definitely will be back!
(5)
Daniel H.
This place is near and dear to my heart. I have been going here half of my life and i still order the same dishes. At least three of the servers date back to my high school choo choos days. The prices still rock i think dishes cost .50 cent to 1.50 more than 14 years ago. I should start to try new things there but why mess with a good thing?
(5)
Sam G.
Is called Choo Choo's because of the train on their storefront signage. Oh my gosh I love this place. Everything about it. It's legitimate, food authentic, and prices unbeatable. $5.95 vs $6.95 for a large and x-large respectively. It has the hallmarks of any authentic Vietnamese restaurant: House special Pho, and spring (summer rolls). There is sriracha sauce, a bilingual menu, and asian waiters. The bowls are humongous (large vs x-large - get the x-large if you want to split with a friend). The meat is as standard as any legit viet restaurant has. The spring rolls are SO GOOD. They're big, and filled with shrimp and everything! The dipping sauce is generous and good. 2 for $3.00! It's a steal anywhere you go. Just as good as Viet restaurants in LA, if not better.
(5)
Kaylin M.
Our go-to place in Philly for when we are craving pho. We always get the summer rolls and different types of pho. Food always comes out super fast and it's really affordable. Our bill is usually only $15 for the two of us.
(4)
Olivier D.
Certainly one of my favorite spots in Philly. Very local. Frequented by Asians. So you know it's authentic and good. And it was... I only had a Phõ Gha size Large and I was stuffed. Nice fresh broth. It could be a little more spiced but nevertheless very very tasty. I will certainly come back here. I actually wanted to get some spring rolls but had no space left .. Next time ;)
(4)
Anita C.
Needed a pho fix in Philly, this place did not disappoint. Pros: Real pho noodles, delicious broth, various meat etc. options, excellent price, ridiculous portions, excellent service, easy to find in Philly Chinatown, bathroom was clean. Cons: I wish I didn't sit facing the kitchen, it kinda grossed me out. Do I think it would be closed down by the health inspector...ummm I don't know. I know I was more squeamish than usual because I was nauseous from riding the SEPTA. Overall: I'd come here again because the food is delicious!
(4)
Crystal E.
So my Asian buddies tipped me off about this place when I complained about not having good Pho in Philly. I heart you Choo Choo! I thought the Pho is good but my favorite food here is the pork chops with rice, which comes with a red/orange sauce. It's so cheap and the portions are generous. The servers/waiters are very nice too.
(4)
Francis H.
This is our go to place for pho now. Everything we've had there so far has been excellent
(5)
Viviane T.
Choo choo...!! If you want a tour of Vietnam in your mouth, this is the place to go. From their Pho dishes, to their oc xà o xot (hot pepper and lemon grass sate escargot) dish, to their soft shell crab melt-in-your-mouth love affair, everything is a must try! While living in Philadelphia for six years, this was my place to go when I'm home sick for my mommy's home cooking. Not only are the dishes authentic, but the prices are very reasonable, and extremely affordable. You're probably thinking, "prices are affordable? Does this mean that the dishes are small in size?" NOPE. For the prices, the portions are large, and fulfilling. The decor of this place is more homely than anything else, their main concern is food, so there's no fuss in the decorations. The service is quick (except during their peak time, when you have to wait for a table), they want to get you in, have you stuff your face, and get you out the door, they do this without making you feel rushed, or being pushy. If you're sick, and if you're an Andrew Zimmern, try their Chao Long, or innards rice porridge. If you can get pass the innards, you will enjoy this delish, make-you-feel-a-million times better dish. This was always my dish when I was feeling down or when I was sick. Basically, if you're in Philadelphia, and if you can only have one meal, do dinner, and go to Pho Xe Lua! You will NOT be disappointed and your wallet will still love you. My mouth is watering just writing this review... LOVE LOVE LOVE!
(4)
Ryan M.
Having had some very bad experiences with Philly food--quality, cleanliness, and so forth--I decided to not take a chance and go to Yelp for advice on best Vietnamese/Pho places. I had a cold that needed to disappear, thus I went straight for a hot bowl of beef Pho and a (very large) side of Chinese broccoli with garlic. I would return here again and again, given the fact that this is probably the best East Coast Pho I have ever had. San Francisco and Seattle still have a handful of places that have this place beat. Regardless, it was excellent. The service is friendly, quick, and all for a very decent price. I finished my meal with a mango smoothie, which was refreshing and tasty. Highly recommended from one visitor to another!
(4)
jessica g.
mmmmm choo choo! I am not the hugest pho fan in the world, but I do love me some pad thai, and they have the best pad thai in the city, especially for vegetarians. the #617 - spicy veg pad thai - is to die for. they give you a ton of it so I always get to enjoy leftovers the next day. Also, best Thai iced tea in the city. And mmm unfried shrimp spring rolls. and shrimp coconut curry.
(5)
Lydia T.
Don't get it twisted. Chooch (what we tend to call it) is the best restaurant in Chinatown. Kept it under raps for years, but I'm pretty sure everyone knows about it now. Pho, water spinach and fried spring rolls. Eat them. Durian Shake and Avacodo Shake. Drink them.
(5)
Yasmeen F.
I knew it was a true sign of city Asian cuisine when encountering the makeshift aquarium that held anxious lobsters and fish folk at the main entrace. The restaurant was showcased in fluorescent lights and flat screen t.v.'s that presented their dishes in high def which was a good alternative to framed pictures. The place had character and well, was kind of charming. We never felt rushed as attentive servers were only paces away tending to their tables and POS systems. We sat towards the back near a paradise etched mirror with a giant AC unit suspended over our heads- I could only imagine the summers there. Our waiter gave us a hot kettle of tea and small cups as we browsed through the menu. As a first time guest, I eagerly turned the pages to seek Pho and was amazed to find a variety of different bowls and a price tag that even a child could afford. I discreetly looked around to watch well seasoned customers twisting the noodles around their chopsticks followed by gulps of soup with their spoons. They looked like they were enjoying themselves and I just had to try it myself. And I was happy that I did. It came out piping hot, with a clear broth and substantial pieces of beef and noodles and a fresh accompaniment of sprouts, basil and limes. The other members of my party endeavored for striped bass, green curry chicken and beef with peppers over rice which they thought were satisfying. As an appetizer, we shared shrimp Pho which was both colorful and healthy. We got avocado shakes, but as a savvy Asian of Filipino descent, I knew first hand that it wasn't real avocado that they used, rather, was a mix powder blended with ice (a trick they use to entice the unknowing consumer). Bummer. And the lychee drink was practically out of the can- fruit and syrup juice together. If it's a bottle of beer you desire they have a bar, but we wanted to try their assorted juices just for giggles. In the end I barely made a dent in my Pho as I packed up the rest in a plastic container to bring home. I had it the second day and it was still very good. For under $6 bucks for my meal it certainly was a good value and quality- Pho show!
(4)
Ting Y.
I have been to Philadephia Chinatown so many times before, but I didn't try this places. I read the reviews about this restaurant last week. And last Sunday, I ate there! Their Pho is awesome! My husband and I both ordered extra large special pho, and it costs $6.5 each. This thing was HUGE! This was the biggest XL Pho that I ever had. The broth was so delicious, and lots of different meat in side. They gave us much more basil and bean sprout than any other places I've ever been. I really liked it. I love lots of fresh basil and sprout in my soup. We had their Shrimp rolls too. They are larger than the ones I had before too. So even I do have big stomache, this time, I tried my best finished all the solid stuff in my pho. And this was my first time that I had lots of broth left. I will definitely go back there again! I will go there tomorrow again, exciting!
(5)
Brandon L.
good pho, the broth is nice and clear and beefy. Best of all, the price is $6.50 for a small to go.
(4)
Philly D.
Always good and very inexpensive.
(4)
Jessica C.
Screw fast food, nothing beats pho here for a cheap, fast meal. Loses points for cleanliness (the floor and the corners tend to look a little grimy) but I've never had any issues personally, so I keep coming back for more!
(4)
Michael G.
Ok. I'm a white guy, but having traveled a great deal and the fact that I eat Pho at least once a week, makes me qualified to write this review. One of my favorite dishes is Beef and Tendon Pho, but what I was served here was bad. The tendon was overcooked and way too soft, with chunks of fat hanging off it. The the beef was tasteless and tough. The bean sprouts were yellow and stale. I could go on about this for another page, but I feel that I've said enough.
(1)
Vincent J.
This is my favorite spot for Viet food, Cheap, great food probable the best in China town.
(5)
Sy S.
Delicious & cheap. I have been a regular customer for a decade... even though I live in Seattle now. I have even tried to replicate their yellow curry dish using TJ's yellow curry sauce, but I can't come close. I just have to wait til the next time I'm back in Philly. p.s. I believe my friend came up with the nickname "choo choo" 10 years ago while we were in college (she discovered it)... Well, at least I like to think so. :)
(5)
Pearl H.
I LOVE PHILLY PHO! I so miss my hometown Viet food! We used to frequent every weekend, and sometimes thrice a week! This place is so good, cheap, dingy, but oh so good! Nothing beats the Pho broth here, I don't know why, must be the dirty Philly tap, but whatever it is I definitely recommend! Stuffed grape leaves are awesome! and so are the typical apps (Shrimp Rolls and such!). Great for groups too, so if you have a big party no worries they have a second floor seating area. Very casual and cheap, I highly recommend!
(5)
Kim V.
Great Pho!
(4)
Er B.
It's awesome. I love it. Fast lunch, quick service. Always friendly. This is now my go-to spot in Chinatown for vermicelli and pho.
(5)
Lin Z.
My favorite Viet restaurant. I went there on a weekly basis and never got disappointed.
(5)
Nicey J.
Delish.. I always get the fried rice and shrimp rolls best fried rice I've ever tasted !!! The rolls are delish I love the vegetarian and seafood soups ... I knocked a star off because of the service otherwise delish !!!!!! I'll continue to go here despite feeling ignored once they bring out the food .... Which may I add comes out astonishingly quick!!
(4)
mike j.
pho what its worth, we enjoyed ourselves. the papaya salad could have been a bit spicier. but that was easily remedied with some fresh jalapeno's on the side. the pho itself was huge, tasty and at a great price. service was extra attentive.
(4)
Nancy S.
The raw beef alone gets it 5 stars. Been coming here for years and the pad thai never disappoints, it's #3 in the city for pad thai in my opinion.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
T L.
Very cheap and excellent food! It's definitely a steal! I agree, I do feel rushed at times. CHOO CHOO!!
(5)Philly D.
What can I tell you? So, I'm eating here with my girlfriend last night- something we do often. We ordered spring rolls, shrimp rolls, a bitchin appetizer with rare beef slices topped with french fried onions, with a lime spiked fish sauce. She wasn't very hungry so she didn't order pho. I, however, ordered the pho tai bo vien. Now, The waiter spent at least about a minute with me, teaching me how to say pho tai bo vien properly. Cool. He's really into his job, and very attentive. One might even say that I may have felt a bit special. A half hour later, we realized that I might not get my pho. Our appetizers were delivered. But no pho. I looked for my waiter throughout that time span and saw him sitting in the back. He then went into the kitchen, or back room, or whatever, and never came back out. So what I'm basically trying to say is that the waiter forgot my pho, then he disappeared, so I didn't get my pho. Are you following me here? I went out to eat pho, and didn't get my pho. At a pho joint. But, despite all of that, those appetizers (and a couple rum flooded jackfruit shakes) were so good, and they made me so happy, that nothing else that happened that night matters. That tells you alot about a place. Five stars, still. If I could add a star I would. Go here, people.
(5)Mum D.
Best Thai seafood noodle soup I 've had for the lowest price. Absolutely the most delicious broth complimented by ...non-intrusive and efficient service. Hands down the best bargain in town. LOVE IT! Great menu and bar, in terms of balancing creativity and tradition. Only cons: they don't do delivery and it can get a bit noisy-the place is always packed. Don't go: let me have it for myself:-).
(4)Ronald D.
With Miss Saigon in Jersey City as a benchmark for average Vietnamese food, I am starting to lean towards it being the best I have ever had. Not being from Philly and not researching Asian food for this trip really had me at a disadvantage. Most of my food adventures in Philly are sandwich based, so fortunately I had yelp to fall back on. Sometimes it's a gamble with yelp, but more times than not, I'll find that gem. Since I had researched on yelp mobile, this was the most reviewed restaurant in downtown Chinatown that wasn't Chinese. We ordered plenty, Pad Thai, Beef over rice with poached egg, stew over rice, fried fish. Pad Thai came out of the gate first, like a bolt it took off. The future looked good. Then I got my beef over rice, it came to a slow pace. Stew over rice, a sudden halt. Not good and drops to the bottom of my Vietnamese list. The beef was bland and the poached egg? Just didn't get that. I'll stick to cheesesteaks when I am in Philly. Bad yelp reference.
(2)Andy X.
This place has the worst staff I've ever encountered. I dined here once and the waiter spilled soup all over me and didn't apologize or anything. He immediately left the scene and non of the staffs responded to the mess he made. It was probably one of the worst dinning experience of my life. I will never go back to that dump.
(1)Jack S.
This is one of my favorite Chinatown destinations--it's cheap and delicious! I always order the Tom Yum soup (perfect if you're craving hot and sour--esp. in the wintertime), the raw flank steak (served with fresh cilantro, crispy shallots/garlic, crushed peanuts, and a chili vinaigrette), and usually a whole steamed striped bass with ginger and scallions--and for around $20 a whole, fresh fish is a super bargain. And an avocado shake for dessert! YUM!!! And let's get to the good part: C H E A P A L C O H O L. Awesome. Beers are under $3, mixed drinks are under $5. But that's everywhere in Chinatown pretty much. Any minuses would be that it takes a long time to get a check or refills sometimes, and I think it closes pretty early--like 10pm?
(4)Diana H.
I've been here three times so far and I'm sure I'll be back. The food is affordable, authentic, and good. My favorites so far are the special combo vermicelli and papaya salad. I'm actually not a big fan of the pho itself - the broth seemed really lacking in flavor - but it is amazing value and tastes good once you add some extra seasoning. Friendly, fast service, definitely recommended.
(4)Gary E.
The chu chu train! Great soup but most of the stuff on flat plates that I've had there has been pretty generic. Their raw beef covered in peanuts is pretty good for all the raw beef & peanut enthusiasts out there and their shrimp balls on sugarcane are also good. The waiters are great (love that tall, skinny old guy) but if you order booze you may have to explain what whiskey is and how it's served. Also a friend of mine ordered something with beef balls there, and we were pretty sure that they were actually beef testicles. He made himself vomit from shame in the parking lot, so I would stay away from anything called beef ball in that place.
(4)Geoff c.
i love you choochoo. there is a train on their front window. the chinese on the side also says train. Good pho. Good price. Good portions. Food is ready almost instantaneously. Very accessible from the subway lines. Decor is bland. Ambiance is lacking. Staff isn't the friendliest. But you're in chinatown. and you're eating pho. If that's what you're looking for, you're in the wrong part of the city. And probably looking for the wrong type of cuisine. So if you want to included those into the rating and compare it to all other types of restaurants, maybe choochoo gets a 4/5 stars. ive been here often. will be back many more times. NOTE - theyre not open on wednesdays. Even though this yelp page says they are.
(4)Yen T.
I was initially going to try out another pho place but since it wasn't open at 11 (even though it said it would be open), I decided to try this one instead (since they open at 10:30). Typical of most pho places this place was a no frills kind of place: decor was lacking and the service was fine. I ordered pho with meatballs and before I put all of the other stuff in it (sriracha, hoisen sauce, herbs) I try the broth; if the broth is good, the pho is going to be good. And it *was* pretty good. I was satisfied.
(4)Jess D.
Good pho at a great price! I usually go to Nam Phuong in South Philly but wanted to find a place closer to home My girlfriend and I had pho and shared a rice place and my boyfriend had the seafood hong kong style noodles. We were all very happy and very impressed by both the service and price! $30 for 3 people for dinner was not bad at all. The ambiance is not fancy at all so don't expect much. It has your typical vietnamese restaurant kind of ambiance. I'm definitely going to make my way back next time I need my Pho fix!
(4)Brye L.
Oh my goodness...I have to embrace all my new BFF's.... Philly yelpers, you rock. Let me just start off by saying you saved me from myself. I was thinking... "Well hell, I'm in Philly, I had better get myself a Philly cheese-steak." I would still be writhing from that gut bomb ( not that I wouldn't have enjoyed every whiz filled morsel). I almost did it, however.... with the rain a bowl of pho sounded like a good comforty idea Being from San francisco I have to admit I have a hard time trusting ethnic food outside my seven mile by seven mile food utopia on the west coast. Philly yelpers steered me right....I wish I has someone to share this experience with. The broth on my pork chop pho was perfectly spiced, not to salty. My thin grilled pork chop was exactly like I dream of them...with a grilled sweet flavor that I will be craving for weeks to come. I was so caught up in the experience that I took a take out menu.....ummmmm three thousand miles might be a little difficult. Maybe I'll just sleep with it under my pillow and have sweet pho dreams.
(5)kathy t.
Decent pho for center city, with a high variety menu (enough options to satisfy even a group of vegetarians). I third the recommendation for Washington Ave pho if you can get out there with a car, but the choochoo train is a reasonable substitute. I also recommend the beef with chinese broccoli (this was an I'll have what they're having moment). Full range of the icy milkshake drinks (mango, yellow bean, etc) and licensed to boot. Spare atmosphere, efficient speedy service. Not wheelchair accessible.
(5)Ma-e M.
I never want to take a pho to go. I always have it hot at the restaurant. It's just not good to eat at home. I want to savor it while it's hot. It's best when they serve it to you and you are ready to slurp the soup. It's always been my practice that if I want pho, I want it now. Pho aside, we came back to this restaurant because we really liked it's fast service and good food. My partner ordered noodles with seafood but to our surprise and disappointment, he found a big chuck of hair in his food (just like the hair you'll find in the bath tub - yuk!). It's really horrible because I don't understand why would a big chuck of hair will get in the food unless, you use to wash the seafood in the sink and the the cook showers there too. It's careless and therefore, unacceptable. I don't care if the manager thinks that it was an accident. They should be very very careful in preparing/cooking the food and should take more time to clean the food. For that matter, I got to downgrade it because all I can remember is that strands of hair in the seafood - even a seconds won't make me eat it again. You might not see me here again because down the block is Pho 75. I'll check it out next time we are in Philly Chinatown.
(3)Elizabeth H.
Our meal was delicious. I had the "everything" pho (the first pho listed on the menu) and shared a papaya salad with beef jerky as an appetizer. It was soo good! The papaya and veggies for the pho (basil, bean sprouts, and lime) were so fresh too! The meal was super cheap and I was so full at the end. I'm looking forward to going back again! :)
(5)Wendy L.
I'm giving 5 stars for the pho and beef bun! Coming from LA, I cannot believe that I had the best pho ever in Philadelphia of all places. I was visiting my best friend and she took me here for lunch. The place was very crowded on a Friday. It's pretty clean. Service is fast. Their lime soda is pretty good and is my friend's favorite drink there. The pho comes in only large and extra large! The prices are really good. Their large is usually the large bowls that my hubby gets in pho restaurants in LA. I typically get regular size bowls and can't finish them. So this was crazy big. I can't imagine who can finish their extra large bowls. The broth is super flavorful and not greasy. The meat was really tender and noodles super good and not stuck together like a giant noodle ball. I asked for no cilantro as usual and was so happy that they didn't just give me a bowl with no seasoning (since many pho restaurants mix their cilantro and green onions together). Instead they gave me lots of green onions just the way I like it!! Major points for them! My friend ordered the beef bun. I was sooo surprised at how good the beef was. It was high quality meat (more like steak) and super flavorful and tender. Yummy! I only wish they have places like that here. I'll bet there are places this good in Westminster but I didn't expect this in Philly. Well done!
(5)Sara C.
When looking to grab some pho in the city, this is always my first choice. The chicken is always tender - not rubbery or chewy like the pho joint much closer to my house. Definitely a no frills atmosphere, and the Thai food is not quite as good, but you will never leave hungry. And $2.50 Sapporo - not bad, either.
(4)Patrick K.
Kinda nasty environment even for a pho place, but holy hell the bowls are HUGE and the summer rolls are HUGE! Everything in this place is mamoth. Great place to go if you're hungry. I felt a bit uncomfortable a few times when I went there...is there such thing as a vietnamese mafia?:-) Definately one to check out though, don't miss..BRING YOUR APPETITE!
(5)Courtney J.
I'm not trying to hate, but I think this place is a little too hyped up. I've been to "the train" a couple times now for pho and thought it was good, but not great. The portion is generous, but my husband and I both agreed we got more beef and noodles over at Pho 75. That's where I'll be when I get my next pho craving. The cold spring rolls were a disappointment. The shrimp roll had barely any shrimp and the pork roll was dry and hard to swallow. I also ordered a lemon soda and it had no fiz! Weird. I haven't given the Thai dishes a chance yet, but maybe they'll change my mind about this place.
(3)Jordan K.
Very good pho, just try to avoid any of the meat varieties with copious fat-chunks in them. To be frank, it's a bit of a turn-off to see huge mounds of cow fat floating around in your soup, especially when the other beef selections are so much tastier. Other than that, enjoy this authentic and very tasty purveyor of Vietnamese cuisine.
(4)Caroline L.
Wandered in here with my boyfriend after reviewing a few Yelp recommendations. We had a good (and cheap) meal. It was more authentic than any of the stuff I've had in NYC. Not the best Vietnamese food I've ever had but was a nice back up when the place I really wanted to visit was closed for a summer vacay.
(4)Chris S.
I really like this place. They're a little "brisk" when it comes to service, but their food makes up for it. Good portion size, good quality, good value. Will definitely repeat! I think you have to know what to order, so for those that gave it low ratings, try ordering something else next time. I had some BBQ thing with this egg side dish that was yummy....I don't know what was in it, but it had egg and some other stuff.
(4)J D.
incredible. yes. amazing.
(4)Maruko X.
the best vietnam noodle in Philadelphia
(4)Vimala R.
Fragrant pho, loved the sour plum drink! Very few veggie options.
(4)Christine T.
My favorite pho place in Philly! Great prices, size and taste! I'm a huge fan of the various pho & bun. They also do a really good salt baked squid and Seafood over Rice noodles.
(4)Nancy T.
This has the best Pho in Philly and the best value. One can drop by any time of the day or night for a bowl of Pho. Great during thses frigid weather - warms your soul. It has many other delicious dishes too (Vietnamese, Chinese,and Thai). Enjoy!
(5)Kimberly H.
Yum! Bring a sweater it's cold. And whatever you do, do NOT order the x-large soup for just you. It could easily feed three of you. Really good thai noodles, too, though not very "thai".
(4)Tony S.
A bowl of Pho (#101) would probably make our Vice President jump out from his seat and yelp "This is a big f--king deal". Yes! That was my reaction, and many yelpers too, who tried it in Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai (choo choo restaurant). It tastes so good and makes me want to yell (but obviously I didn't), instead, I yelp to you now. so let's begin: Pho #101 (Large or Extra-Large): Even you order a large bowl; you will be amazed by its size when the bowl is actually sitting in front of you. Yes, it's HUGE in my opinion. Inside the bowl, a pile of various types of beef and beef inner parts (such as thin cuts of beef, brisket, fatty flank, tendon, tripe...etc) that covers up top. Right under them, you will find a ton (a little bit exaggeration) of white rice noodles in clear beef broth. Let me rephrase myself one more time on the last part of my sentence : CLEAR BEEF broth (many other restaurants are serving NO-CLEAR, NO-Beef, or nasty broth). If you dare to look at it again, you will probably think that you are getting an extra-large order (don't be shy about it, ladies!). A plate of fresh greens, herbs, vegetables and various others are right next to your soup and waiting for actions. Once you properly "mix" them into your soup, Da..da..da!! delicious! Yet, the price is under 7 dollar. Can't be that. Pad Thai: Spaghetti like rice noodle mixed with red hot/sweet sauce covered up by big shrimps, dry tofu and others on top looks very nice. And of course it tastes good too. It's one of the best pad thais I have in Philly so far. Yes, it's under $10. Great deal, great taste! Many other "Exotic" drinks such as martinis with various flavor, bubble teas, and Avocado smooth drinks are very tasty, and yet, probably the cheapest in town! Try them yourself in this Choo choo restaurant !!
(4)B B.
Good food at a good price, the pho ga hit the spot on a warm spring night.
(4)Julie S.
Came here on a weekday with a friend before the noon time lunch rush. The pho was hot, slurpy goodness on a really cold day. The large bowl is huge, and the xlarge bowl is enough to feed 4 friends, unless you are REALLY hungry. The spring rolls were crunchy, fried and tasty. All this great food for less than $20, what a deal! I'll be back with lots of friends!
(4)Nicholas P.
This place is no joke! Fast service and all. The papaya/beef jerky salad is very nice. Beef and frank brisket is a must. Choo choo is choolicious!!
(5)Dominic R.
Pho for under 6 bucks? Pho'k yeah
(4)Jenn T.
A hidden gem in Chinatown. The food is affordable and delicious. Perfect for college students who want good food and cheap prices or anyone on a tight budget. This place is also a fantastic date spot. The atmosphere is great and the interior is well decorated.
(5)Yo M.
Duck leg Egg noodle soup! Seriously Vietnamese food, in Philly!?! Wowza! Thanks for the rec Alyssa!
(3)Karen L.
When I lived in Philly, I went here often. Cheap, quick, and I love the seafood soup. Look for the choo choo train on the front door!
(4)Betty N.
If you want a place with no-frills, but cheap and tasty Vietnamese food, with efficient service, this is the place to go. The grilled sirloin beef cubes (don't know the dish's actual name) and the beef wrapped in grape leaf appetizer have been consistently good. Although the pho is not the best I've had, it is tasty and comes in huge bowls. The grilled chicken on rice is very good too. Generally, I've found their vegetable dishes good. If you're a little adventurous, try their fried frog legs. It's also nice that the waitstaff is generally nice and efficient.
(4)Eddie C.
The Train should be categorized as the best spot for Pho in Chinatown, as it does fall a bit short versus other restaurants in South Philly. The portions are a bit smaller and the broth is on the oily side. With that said, they do offer a decent bowl of soup and you won't be disappointed. You can head next door for Bubble Tea afterwards. The main issue is parking for those of us who don't live in the city. Why fight for parking in Chinatown when you can drive up Washington and park in a lot for free.
(4)Jonathan O.
Honestly this is one of my favorite places in Philly to get Pho. The greens are always fresh and when I get it to go the beef is ALWAYS on the side. Plus when I have my baby girl with me they will bring it out to our car! That's service! It has made me a convert from 6th and Washington.
(4)Emanuel K.
This is the cheapest Vietnamese joint in town. Their seemingly endless menu offers everything you'd find at the fancier places (at about half the price) and far more, including numerous Thai dishes. The service is fast, the food is delicious. Nuff said.
(5)Ivy L.
This is a great place for a cheap quick meal. I was in the mood for Vietnamese but Vietnam(the best vet food on earth) was closed, we ended up here for lunch... not bad. Please note the shrimp will not be peeled or cleaned if you order it! I had tofu vermicelli... so good! I recommend the iced chi tea or avocado smoothie, yum.
(4)C K.
I gravitate towards this place for the food and low prices. I enjoy eating the vegetable pho and chicken fried rice. I would also enjoy eating the summer rolls if they removed the intestinal line on the shrimp. Disgusting!
(4)Paul C.
I have been going here since college and still have the best pho in philly! You just can't go wrong with XLG bowl of Pho!
(4)Gracie N.
If you're looking for great decor: wrong spot, but great pho: perfect spot!
(4)Christina Q.
I consider this to be my first time having pho. In truth, I have had it before, but the dish was unmemorable and I was so clueless in my technique that it simply did not count. So, I started fresh at Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai, and I'm glad I did. I had the Beef Pho and I instantly understood the hype. I do not have the experience to say that this is the best, as many others have, but I did enjoy the dish and trust that this could be some of Philly's best. The servers at Pho Xe Lau Viet Thai were eager to remind me that I am a newcomer. I know the reason, it's because my boyfriend is Asian and he is therefore superior in this setting. I am used to being ignored when in this situation and know that they will only address him. But when you give me the fork, you hurt my feelings. I will not hold it against you, I loved the Pho and I will be back for more. Maybe in time I can prove myself to you, servers of Pho Xe Lau Viet Thai. Looking forward to it!
(4)Brooke M.
Decent Pho. Not the best I've ever had. Service was mediocre.
(3)Karman L.
Agree with Chris L.'s Review. I usually can inhale the whole bowl of pho easily, but the portion here is quite generous, I actually couldn't finish! Both the soup and the noodle are great! You should also try their Vietnamese coffee! I'm so wired now!
(5)Herb L.
My favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown. And cheap, because it only reaches my defined price range as defined by my friends' appetites (read as LARGE.) Large enough for groups with 2/F, good drinks, huge bowls of pho, nice tanks of seafood upfront.
(4)Jake P.
This is my favorite stop in Chinatown. They're open late, they're dirt cheap, and the menu makes you want to be daring (for newbies to Pho like me). Honestly, what I like about Pho Xe Lua too, is it's atmosphere. Whatever time of day, this place is packed. Eaters are lively, friendly, and it's just a great example of Philadelphia at its best. Parking is growing more impossible by the month, so this is a better catch if you live within walking distance. But there is no way I like to end a stressful week, then heading here for some pho and appetizers. No other place in Philly makes me say, "I'll have what she's having," like this spot. P.S. the neon train in the window will be mine if I ever win the lotto.
(5)Matthew C.
Choo choo pho is the best bang for your buck in philly, hand down. I've been going here for years now but when I first moved to philly, my buddy and I searched for the best pho in town. Being from the bay area in california, pho is a staple! The portions we found here were gigantic and the food was pretty good all around, not the best but for how cheap it is and how much you get, this truly is a great deal. Their other menu items like the curries, vermicelli bowls and spring rolls are also delicious and a good size. I started bringing a bunch of my friends in and now we're all hooked on choo choo pho. They know us so well when we come in that we simply raise our hands for those who want an XL-105 and the servers know what the other regulars like too, whether it be the yellow curry chicken or pad thai. If you're on a budget, this place will spare your wallet and totally satisfy you stomach :)
(5)Chris L.
If you want the best Pho in Philly Chinatown, check out Pho Xe Lua (or the train/choo choo place). Not only is it one of the best in Philly, it also gives the most generous portion of Pho (vietnamese noodles), it's not that expensive, and service is super fast. They also have some good smoothies, like the strawberry or mango smoothie, along with other flavors. Their rice entrees are also pretty good, but their trademark dish is the pho. I've also had their thai coconut chicken soup... very awesome. I recommend this place for anyone who wants some fast cheap food in Chinatown. Note: they close on Wednesdays.
(5)Steven K.
The worst dining experience to memory. I don't know why there were four stars but they were what brought my friend and I to go out and try "Choo Choo" - Pho Xe Lua - this evening. Following the posts of previous users, we ordered the curry chicken and potatoes, and also tried the vegetable pad thai. Oh boy. The curry chicken and potatoes could not even compete with boxed, store-bought curry. The dish was extremely salty, and the potatoes were old, low quality, and didn't feel, taste, or even look like potatoes. They seemed to have been soaking in the curry sauce for some time, yet somehow the dish came out within 3 or 4 minutes of ordering. Hrm.... Oh and the pad thai! If this dish was brought to me without knowing its origin, and I were to guess what it was, and of what ethnic variety it came from, I would have been clueless. Does pad thai have tomato sauce in it? Does it usually come with mushrooms and broccoli? Does it taste like spicy cardboard with noodles like spaghetti? If you answered yes to any of these questions, hurry on down to Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Choo Choo Train restaurant on Race street. Clearly, my friend and I would never come back to the restaurant, as there are a plethora of cheap eats in Chinatown. Just take a few seconds to contemplate the nickname of this restaurant. Does it make any sense to you? NO - and the food doesn't make sense either!
(1)Ritu K.
cheap tasty food- what's not to love! what it lacks for in ambiance and charm, it makes up for with yummy pho and super fast service. its usually packed but being seated fairly promptly is usually not an issue. the menu is extensive (and having only eaten a few things off the menu i can't speak for the hundreds of items here), but what i've had i love. the broth of the pho is very flavorful, the curry chicken with rice (a simple but hearty dish) always tastes right and we walk out of here completely satiated and satisfied, having spent only $20 for dinner and drinks. kind of divey inside, but excellent value and tasty food.
(4)steven e.
No one knows the real name of this place. Everyone just calls it the Choo Choo train. They have excellent pho and horrible thai food. Love your toilet. Stick with the pho.
(5)Dredge K.
today we had two dishes: the dac biet (special) pho and the bun bo hue these were very common vietnamese noodle soups the pho was disappointing, the portions were good and there was a lot of meat, but the flavor had little depth (there was a nice extra hint of cinnamon but that didn't make up for the lack of other flavors), the meat was cut too thick, and the noodles were overcooked this was the WORST bun bo hue i have ever had in my life! 1) the bowl was small, not a pho sized bowl, but a soup sized bowl - u know? 2) the broth was soooooo bland, as in, no flavor - and they did not provide the extra hit of shrimp paste on the side that is traditional of this dish to give it an extra kick 3) the meats were lacking: like where were the coagulated blood cubes that make bbh different from other soups like pho? 4) the garnishes they gave were the same as the garnishes for pho (lime, bean sprouts, basil) when bbh should come with (lime, shredded cabbage, and shredded banana flower), since the soup is different, different garnishes will highlight it it was loud and i was annoyed by all the misbehaving kids, what has happened to the well-behaved asian child, i was one, why can't these kids sit still and eat?
(1)Brenton W.
I have been going here for almost 8 years. It is consistently good. No Frills, large portions, very fast and priced great. I am a creature of habit and pretty much order the same thing (#107 add beef balls) almost every time. It is always piping hot,flavorful and always plenty of beef balls, tendon, tripe and brisket. The spring rolls are very good also. You can tell they are fried to order, unlike another well know vietnamese spot on 11th street. The service isnt anything to write home about but that never bothers me. They have the strongest, sweetend iced vietnamese coffee in town. Its a must after dinner. While there are plenty of great PHO spots in the city, this is my go to everytime I am craving soup. I love the computer screens all over the walls displaying certain house specialties. The only strange thing to me is they are closed on Weds.
(4)Kent W.
The rice and noodles dishes are freaky good and hearty. Pork and spring roll w/ vermicelli, curry chicken w/ potato, and the pad thai are tha best. The drinks are good too. I tried the pennyworth and the avacado milkshake. The Pho weren't too bad either. One of my favorite place to eat in Phily.
(4)Bob L.
Very good Thai restaurant at a really great bargain. The Pho is some of the best I've had in the city and the dinner plates are great too. Try the beef briscuit pho with meat balls...fantastic. You get some great dinner combos at a very cheap price. The service is usually a bit unfriendly, but I've never felt unwelcome or out of place. It's not a BYO, but they have cheap Tsing Lao beer and some good cocktails if you're interested.
(4)SOUMEN B.
This most unassuming little place in Philly Chinatown is MY NUMBER 1 RESTAURANT IN ALL USA!!! Now let me explain why. I am not a big fan of overly pretentious places and this place is as unpretentious as it gets. But then it still has ambience - of the most natural and relaxed kind. The clientele is very eclectic and the restaurant, being located smack dab in the middle of Philly Chinatown is very accessible. But of course, none of these is the main reason why I love it so much. It's the food, stupid!! And at a throwaway price too to boot. My staple for several years have been number 215 - the Thai style shrimp green curry on rice for $5.95 and number 409 - filet mignon in lemon grass sauce (Bo Luc Lac) for $12.95. Thai and Vietnamese food are my two most favorite types of cuisine and this place combines both in a way that I have not found anywhere else in the US. The Pho is most definitely the greatest I have tasted anywhere and if you're not sure of what to choose, is a great beginner's dish here. They also have just the right sauces on the table, drinks (alcoholic and otherwise, including those exotic Asian soft drinks) and prompt service. The only reason I am not getting around to going there more often is the slightly iffy parking in Philly Chinatown - but that's really a very minor quibble. Tip: Street parking there is free after 8:00 PM.
(5)Arthur D.
If you want a cheap dinner, this place has lots of $5 entrees. The portions are huge, but of course you shouldn't expect entirely choicy, lean cuts. Service is quick and decent, especially for Chinatown. The only other quibble I have is the appetizer menu, which isn't that appetizing to me.
(4)Jessica C.
this is why i love chinatown. authentic food. reasonably priced. they're known for their pho but also try the spring rolls and thai chicken with lemongrass! yumm. owners are really cool, too =)
(5)Jenny U.
Best place in Philly for vietnamese food. Never been disappointed. The food is alsways fresh and I also call it the choo choo restaurant.
(5)Maria C.
My friend and I came here during a day trip. She used to live in Philly and this was one of her usual hangouts, so she was very excited to bring me! I had the rice dish with shredded pork and grilled pork, and egg. I also had a lychee drink. Everything was super tasty! My favorite part, other than the grilled pork itself, was the bill, which on my end came to around $10 after tipping and even with the drink. Wonderful!
(5)Destiny S.
This is one of my favorite pho spots, there is another one close by that I go to as well. The pho here is sooo good and it's a bit less expensive than the other place I visit. I bring everyone to eat pho here! Everyone I brought enjoyed it except one, (but she wasn't an adventurous eater). I can not wait to go back and get pho again. The smoothies they have are delicious and taste really fresh. I bought a mango smoothie and it was pretty awesome! This is definitely one of my go to spots because I haven't had a bad experience yet and I've come here to get pho many times!
(4)Nicolas N.
This was my go-to Vietnamese restaurant for pho in Chinatown. But, lately it seems like quality has depreciated a lot. Price is reasonable but it is still low value if food is low grade. Two stars for poor quality food and value, despite friendly service. Go elsewhere to another restaurant that doesn't serve old meat with their pho or rice, shrimp and veggies that was kept in fridge for too long. The meat in the pho xe lua tasted like it was previously frozen. The shrimp and pork spring rolls were tasteless and the shrimp tasted stale and old. The iced coffee is decent. The sugarcane shrimp paste (one of my fav appetizer) was the worst I have had. I write this honest review with a heavy heart...and with the proclamation that doesn't seem to be any decent Vietnamese restaurants (after firsthand experience) in Chinatown in Philly. Disappointment: It is the worst of all emotions Creeping in like a snake Seizing your breath and tongue A chill that raises the hair on your arms Your stomach drops and your face Turns hot Disappointment. It is not fleeting like anger Or easily soothed like sadness It's brother is bitterness and It's sister is misery Leaving a stain that can only be cut out Disappointment.
(2)Christine V.
Good pho place in Chinatown with a lot of options to choose from. Pho, rice plates, vermicelli, other entrees, you name it. I ordered the vermicelli bowl with grilled pork, shrimp cake, and grilled pork balls (that's bun thit nuong, chao tom, and nem nuong for my fellow Vietnamese readers). It was a solid bowl of noodles. A little heavy on the lettuce and not so much the vermicelli, but the amount of grilled pork made up for it. The fish sauce was not as flavorful as I like but it still managed to add some Viet flavor to the dish. Overall, a pretty decent Vietnamese establishment in Chinatown!
(3)Teresa V.
Regardless of whether or not you are having an immense craving for Vietnamese cuisine, I would not recommend coming here for multiple reasons. The food, menu options, and prices were on par with any other typical Vietnamese restaurant. And trust me, there are quite a decent number of better valued Vietnamese restaurants in the Philly area that are much more worth your bucks. The spacing in the restaurant is fairly tight, most likely in an attempt to accommodate the large number of people who would come in because of its busy location. And you, my friend, should consider yourself intelligent and give yourself a nice pat on the back, for doing the appropriate research on this place prior to coming (unless you're all ready seated that is). Both service and cleanliness need improvements, which were what brought my overall rating for this place from an average rating of 3, down to a "meh" rating of 2 stars. I mean, check out the little surprise surprise metal piecing found in one of our meals. Therefore, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a proper meal. While the food and pricing are "aye okay," overall, it's just not worth the experience. There's plenty of awesome Vietnamese restaurants in the city that are well worth your time and money, even if it's a wee bit more out of your way.
(2)Rosy V.
This isn't my personal choice for a Vietnamese restaurant, but a friend wanted pho and she chose this so I went with it. For starters since we were a large group they placed us near the back but it was pretty uncomfortable, at least for me, because the servers would just stand there are stare at our table. But besides that let's get on with the rest of the review... Food was decent prices, very inexpensive for a large amount of food. My sister ordered a "small dish" on the menu and it was pretty large. But besides the size of the food being good, the food itself was decent tasting. Nothing special, but it wasn't bad. The one thing that made this review bad was my other sister's dish had a piece of metal in it the size of the tip of your pinky.......I didn't know about it until we left the restaurant otherwise I would've complained about it and taken a picture as proof. I would've understood if it was a tiny piece of plastic, but a piece of metal??? That was really bad. I would personally never come back here due to the metal and due feeling slightly uncomfortable due to the staff. And if you REALLY want Vietnamese food drive a little further and out of Chinatown and you'll find pretty decent Viet restaurants out there. And honestly if I were in Chinatown Philly go eat Chinese food not Vietnamese there.
(2)Brie V.
Came here for the first time and ordered pho with chicken. It was pretty OK; it was not the best pho I have ever had nor was it the worse. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here (like I did this time) but, if I were in the neighborhood, I might be willing to stop here for a steaming bowl of pho for lunch...but I would probablly just go try the pho at one of the other nearby establishments.
(3)Zinnia M.
Best pho in Philly! They have this recipe perfected for sure. The waitstaff can be kind of brusque, but I'm not there to be coddled! They bring out your pho super fast and it always hits the spot. Bring cash because they have a credit minimum (I think $10) and a regular size is certainly under that. I've never needed an XL because the regular is so filling. Complimentary green tea to boot. Can't beat it!
(5)Feebee A.
Hello there awesome new PHO spot. Clearly, I am in a full blown exploration of the great city of brotherly love. So the far the food bad been good but this place just made my experience in this city that much better. My co-worker and I were craving some delicious pho and had no idea where to go. But, when in doubt Yelp! Being that this spot is located in the heart of Chinatown, we knew we were in for a treat. When we first walked in, a gentlemen behind the counter greeted us. He was extremely friendly! Asked us where we're from, what we enjoyed to eat, and made suggestions. All while we waited for a table. While we were waiting, we noticed their extremely large menu and the fact that it was PACKED! Granted we came during lunch time, but there was no empty seat in the house. I stuck with my basic chicken pho (I know who gets that and not beef but don't judge me) and it was so deliciously yummy. I get scared/worried trying new Asian spots and I def will be sticking to this spot for my pho. My coworkers got bun which they raved about! All in all great spot. There is no going wrong with cheap good food.
(5)Tiffany T.
This review is for their Chicken Pho (Pho Ga) only. If you're ordering chicken pho -- the honest opinion is 2/5 stars.. I've definitely experienced better. But I rounded to a 3 star, since this location isn't known for their chicken pho and I don't feel like a lower rating is fair as this is the only dish I tried. $6.75 including tax, so your standard pho price. The broth is light, but not very flavorful at all. The chicken is not bone-in, as the menu states it is " shredded chicken". Some of the chicken was very tender -- some of the pieces were undercooked unfortunately and that's a big NO-NO for chicken. Would not return for chicken pho. I've heard great things about their beef pho though
(3)Ryan M.
I am a tremendous fan of this venue! I come here all the time for two main reasons: 1) LOW prices and 2) excellent selection. The food out of here is authentic and is not of the take out style. it is well-prepared and for as low as $5.50 you can enjoy a FULL meal. I eat here all the time for lunch and get it to-go for dinner often as I work nights and do not have time to prepare dinner. It is cheaper than Subway, McDonald's, and fast food style Chinese take-out but it is a real meal and the portion size is more than enough to feed a 165 lb male as myself. do yourself a favor and check it out. You won't find any compromises on quality or portion size with the low prices here.
(5)Wayne H.
Closed till 7/23! We walked all the way from the Independence Hall for some pho & iced coffee for lunch. Went next door instead. Check out my review of Viet... House.
(3)Dee M.
Anytime i go to an Asian restaurant and most of the patrons are of the restaurants nationality I get a big smile on my face. Such was the case here. To me it means they are authentic.Dined alone here tonight and it was comfortable. Kind, attentive service. Menu: Sliced beef and beef balls Pho in a large bowl of broth. Took half home. Served with a fresh pot of free tea which helped on a dreary, rainy cold night. Takeout was shrimp rolls. The dine in and takeout were great. Drumroll: total bill was 9.99!! You read that right. Liked this affordable chinatown Viet Thai place so much i bought Xmas gift cards.
(4)Victoria R.
This place is your typical, authentic Southeast Asian restaurant! I love it here. My husband and I will walk 30 minutes to Chinatown just to have a bowl of their delicious Pho! It's the best price too! Seriously, so good it brings back good childhood moments. For me, it's like that moment when that crazy bitter critic in Ratatouille takes a bite of the best meal the rat has to offer and it triggers nostalgia? Yeah, that's what their pho does to me. Makes me cry for my momma. Ain't no shame in that.
(5)Vanessa T.
Pho CHOO CHOO as everyone seems to call it, is probably the restaurant I would go to for vietnamese food in chinatown. They have a very wide range of variety when it comes to their menu. You can find chinese food, vietnamese food, and thai food here. I've been here a few times before, this time I decided to try their bun bo hue. The noodles were overcooked (too soft); however, the broth was pretty flavorful but wasn't spicy enough for me, I had to add the green peppers that came in the pho plate. Even then, it wasn't spicy enough. The beef in the bun bo hue was good but the pig feet (I normally don't eat but decided to try today) was very chewy, I don't know if it's suppose to taste like that or if it's undercooked. I've had their pad thai here before. The portion is rather large and I tasted too much ketchup in it (not a fan). As for the pho, it is pretty good, my friend ate the whole bowl and the soup, so it must be really good. They only come in large and extra large. This place is quite a deal when it comes to pricing. A bowl of pho large is 6.50 and so was my bun bo hue, so our meal came out to be 13 dollars and some change. As far as service, let's not kid ourselves, this is an asian restaurant in chinatown. Their style of service is eat and leave. I would likely come back to try some other dishes.
(3)Riley S.
Hands down, best pho in the city of Philadelphia. Been going to this place for years. Don't expect great service but it is made up for by the incredible food. I usually stick with the 101 (comes with all cuts of meats) and summer wraps which come with a side of peanut sauce. You can get all this for ~10$.
(5)Sammip P.
While trying out all the different Pho places around Philly, I find that this was mediocre. The broth was watery and had almost no flavor to it. Perhaps because it was Saturday during lunch time and it was starting to get pretty busy. But still, the broth is everything and I was let down by it. The meat was tender and delicious and the staff was very friendly. All in all, I'm glad I went here once
(3)Anna Y.
By far the best pho I've had since I moved to Philadelphia. It's cheap, the broth is made fresh daily, service is always great, and the food always comes out so fast!. Always my to go place for pho.
(5)Michele Q.
I think I found my new go-to pho spot in Philly Chinatown! I always tend to frequent Pho Cali when I'm in town because it was right around the corner from the Greyhound bus station. But I've come to find that they're getting a bit expensive for the quantity and quality of their food. This time around, I was determined to try out a new place. Thumbs up, Pho Xe - a bit of a walk but totally worth it! Ordered the banh cuon and pho for myself (clearly a fatty) but started to have second thoughts when the banh cuon (app) looked like a full meal! Silly me, I should have known better. But my momma taught me to never waste food and everything was fabulous. The pho was delicious and plentiful. I was also super glad my friend decided to join me because I needed to take a break from eating before I could finish the rest of my food. She ended up ordering an app and a bowl of pho as well and we both ordered Coronas. All in all, the bill only came to $30! Gotta say that's a great deal!
(4)Jack J.
Probably the best pho place in Chinatown. Made my bowl an XL because I'm a pig and it was definitely a lot of food. $7.50 for a large bowl of warm goodness on a winter day is unbeatable. Although the pho places near the Italian market is still better, this is as good as it gets in center city east. Our server wasn't that attentive though, didn't refill our water once. I need my cold water with warm foods!
(4)Justine S.
We were craving Vietnamese for lunch and we decided to give this place a try. I ordered the Hu Tieu Mi Sate Bo Kho (rice noodle beef stew) it was OK. The beef itself was tender and good, however the sauce and overall flavor of the dish was alright, I was not a fan and I've had this dish before at other establishments. My BF ordered pho- the broth was very tasty even without any sauce. We both ordered Vietnamese iced coffee (I like mine very strong and flavorful), unfortunately here it was watery and lacked flavor- I did not even finish mine. The service was pretty quick however, they initially only brought out my coffee so we had to ask for another (despite having ordered two); additionally, my BF ordered an XL pho which turned out to just be a large (I realized this upon seeing bigger pho bowls as we were leaving). Maybe ordering the wrong dish gave me a bad first impression, but if I were to ever return, I would only order pho.
(3)Marshall D.
Average at best. Very salty. Asked for extra spicy and they brought dressing on side.
(3)Juliana K.
My parents always make us go here when they are in down. The pho here is great. Everything comes out quickly. Pretty typical Chinese/Thai restaurant, but the food quality is definitely a bit better than the other chinatown places.
(5)Nazee Z.
Came here feeling sickly and wanting some pho, and got exactly that. Went come and for some reason developed a fever. Weird. I tried the pho with beef balls and raw meat. I was curious about the beef balls but they were general meatball things sliced from a sausage looking thing. Yea, not sure what it was so I don't know if I would recommend it, but it was tasty. Pho was pretty good, but to me, pho is how you doctor it not how it comes to you. Came pretty tasty so that's cool. Service was pretty good, water was constantly flowing as were napkins (so necessary with pho). But I think we had like 3 waiters at a time so it was difficult to figure out who to ask for things. I was a little bummed when I asked for a thai bubble tea at the end and didn't end up getting it. But the whole dinner for two was $13. I'll def come again. On the other hand, I've been here before (about a yr ago) and got noodles and other delicious foods and found myself suuuuuuuper satisified. I'd still try again despite the weird, but tasty beef balls o.O
(4)Brian K.
Stopped in for lunch today with a friend. The service was fast and friendly enough and the ambiance purely noodle house, which I like. We opened with a shrimp roll for an appetizer. It came with the peanut sauce and it was refreshing and tasty. My companion, ordered a clam soup, which she enjoyed thoroughly. I ordered the Bun Bo Hue, which I was a little disappointed with. The broth was a little bland and lack that kick that a good bun bo hue broth should have. The prices were very reasonable, and because of that alone, it would be worth a try. I am sure my companion would give it four stars, but because my main course was no better than average, I am resigned to give it 3. Give it try. It is solid noodle house that will more than take care of your lunch or dinner needs.
(3)Susannah M.
Upon entering, this hole in the wall restaurant smelled so good. The guy behind the counter was the sweetest, talking to us and giving us recommendations as we waited for a table. It was packed and with good reason. I ordered the pork bun-301 and it was probably the best decision I made all day. The pork was a bit fattier then I am used to but still absolutely delicious. The egg roll was not as greasy as typical and was deliciously flaky. My coworker got the chicken pho and LOVED it. I have a feeling this is our new Thai spot. Plus it is super cheap. Go here if you eat food.
(5)Shereen C.
I've since tried other dishes at Pho Xe Lua so I'm updating my review. Filet Mignon with lemongrass is still tasty. Pho is good, comforting. Appetizer with raw beef slices is solid. Fish dish was not as good. Tofu with vegetables was uninspired -- I'd avoid ordering this in the future. For $5, the mixed drinks were solid. Quite good for the price.
(4)Frank K.
After over a week in Chinatown, we finally made it to Pho Xe Lua and it was worth it. We had traditional Pad Thai along with a dish of mixed veggies, tofu and bean sprouts and it was more than filling. And tasty. I have to say that even though Pad Thai may be the beginner's Thai dish, it was delicious here, one of the best I've had. Shrimp were plentiful, plump, and perfectly cooked. Beers were incredibly inexpensive for a wide selection of bottles. Service was efficient and friendly. Also helpful. We walked in early on a Saturday night when most of the other restaurants on the street were almost empty. Pho Xe Lua was almost full on both floors--now I understand why.
(4)Andrew H.
Delicious and affordable! I threw down a pho Xe Lua sac biet for only 7.fitty! The soup broth was nice and sweet without being... Sweet. Its not like many places I go to where an XL is just a medium in a huge bowl. They loaded it up with meat, tripe, tendons and all the good stuff. This will be my goto spot for the winter.
(5)Johnny L.
I think the food there is pretty average but it is cheap so I don't mind. And it's pretty tight in there, barely any space to get up
(3)Rebecca G.
My friend and I came here for Pho yesterday. We started out our meals with a share of the spring rolls, which were accompanied by a tasty peanut sauce, and proved the perfect appetizer! We then continued with bowls of the seafood and special pho, respectively, and both hit the spot. From the broth to the noodles, they were among the best bowls of pho that we have had. Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai is definitely as good as it gets!
(5)Vivian T.
Lets start w/ very great price... appetizer, 2 main dishes, 2 beverages ll for $44 which includes tip ... tasty and well worth it for 2 people The Pho you can skip on b/c the broth is weak... but try 212 - chicken lemon grass and white rice and the pad thai .... bangin' Also, please please please get the vietnamese coffee dripped (hot or cold), a must have here along w. the beef carpacio bathing in lime juice and friend onions and fish sauce. For a fast in and out (40 mins top sit down venue), it gets a 4.5 stars minus 0.5 for the lack of ambience
(4)Hali R.
My first time having Pho and I loved it! I had tequila sunrise, my boyfriend had a Thai Iced Tea. We both had #105 Pho and LOVED it. The service was fast, friendly, and we only paid $30 after tip :)
(5)Nary K.
Always good food and fast service. It's all about the food here! If you want ambiance, this is not the place for you. My favorite go to dish is shrimp with lemongrass or the seafood pho. You can't go wrong. One more thing....very very very affordable! You can have a meal for two for about $25
(5)stephanie x.
I really like this place. The food and service has always been consistently fast and friendly. There is a huge selection of food from Viet to Chinese. It's been a go-to place in Chinatown for me because I know I'll get reliable service and good food to fill me up at a very reasonable price. I have tried alot of dishes on their menu and they have all been very good!
(5)Oli O.
we are tourists from Zurich Switzerland and eat a lot asian food. especially thai and vietnam. this place was world class and we enjoyed the food and service very much. we have very high standards and are hard to satisfy.
(5)E I.
I LOVE their pho, but dislike the service. Stop rushing me to eat!!!!!!!!!
(5)Matt H.
Don't be fooled by the spotty decor, this is the best Vietnamese food in Philadelphia.!!!!! I've been in love with the vietnamese cuisine for sometime now and can spot a fake by just smelling their fish sauce, and looking at the yellowish/ redish tint. The pho train gets it right on every mark. The food here is as authentic as can be. It is an absolute hidden gem!!!!!
(5)Shawn T.
I do love the pho here as you get great portions to what you order and it is healthy for you. Only issue is parking in china town... urggghhh....
(4)Phoebe S.
The raw beef (marinated in line juice and served with dry/fried onions, peanuts, basil and fish sauce) is one of my favorite dishes EVER. And I know spring rolls taste the same (if delicious) everywhere, but theirs are really something else. Pho is good/fine, I've had better, and same with the salty dry fried shrimp with head (well cooked, but a bit bland last time I had them). The grape leaves are excellent. Good, friendly no nonsense service, pretty cheap Chinatown prices.
(5)Joe C.
holy pho bang, batman this place is disgustingly addicting. the pho was amazing, the noodle was almost perfect and the broth is MSG free goodness. i love this place with a passion...too bad i don't live around here or i'd be here all the time. I LOVE IT!
(3)BrasilPo P.
This has got to be one of the best bowls of PHO I've had in the last two years living here in the East Coast. If you like tendon --- these folks give you the most TENDER parts. There is HOPE folks...
(5)Jenn H. H.
best and biggest pho in the area. also has excellent rice flake dishes and ho fun. your food comes out furiously fast (almost too fast) and prices are cheap, cheap, cheap. there's no atmosphere and you are squeezed into your tables. they cram everyone in here to the gills. i always see them blendering yummy looking drinks. i would eat here every day if i could.
(5)C K.
Cheap, and Good. Not the best Pho I've had, but its good. The portions are huge.
(4)jason t.
i didn't notice any thai dishes on the menu, but whatever. i got the flank 'n' tripe pho...the meat was good, but the broth was much too subtly spiced for my taste, i had to dump a bunch of sriracha and hoisin in there just to give it some flavor. i can't argue with the portion size though, i got the "large" (rather than the "extra large") and i'm still full seven hours later.
(3)Anna Y.
i haven't been to this place in about a year, but i still dream about their raw flank steak appetizer. and their pho, rice dishes and other noodle dishes ain't so bad either.
(5)Donna L.
This is my favorite restaurant of all times. Throughout the years I've been coming here, I never once had a bad meal. Pho Xue Lua Restaurant (nicknamed Choo Choo's) is a really popular restaurant for students (elementary/high school/college). Their portions are large for a really small price. The atmosphere is loud and can be very crowded, but then which Chinatown restaurant isn't? My all time favorite would be either the 1. grilled chicken and pork chop over broken rice (I love the sweet & sour sauce that comes with it) 2. pho or 3. the curry chicken and potato rice. Of course, I finished off with a rainbow ice. Which they list as a drink, but the red beans, mung beans, and little jello strips in a cold sweet coconut milk seems more of a dessert to me. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for a formal dinner or a 1st date, this seems more like a quick meal during a lunch break or a shopping spree.
(5)Sharon C.
This review is strictly for PHO only. I can't even conceive of ordering anything else from this venue, so please go on to the next review if you are interested in anything other than pho. The only five star pho review I will ever give in the east coast. I know, because I've been eating pho EVERYWHERE they have it in the east coast and the west coast (AND Vietnam, I might add) for the last 12 glorious years. Pho is my last meal item. I love it that much. But I'm fiendishly picky about every component of this dish. I'm not a true carnivore, and as such, do away with the funny bits of cow (I have no problems with them flavoring my broth with it, but I don't care to chew them, thank you very much), and typically go for Pho Tai. So starting with the meat...this needs to be RAW, sliced THIN, and a bit on the glistening-bloody side. The broth, therefore, needs to be piping hot so that as soon as you flip the meat underneath the mass of rice noodles, it cooks instantly. The rice noodle, since it'll be plunged into the hot broth, cannot be overcooked. They need to be JUST barely pliable, so that it finishes cooking in the broth and becomes slurp-worthy. Broth, aside from the temperature, is truly the soul of the dish. I cannot abide by any broth that has little blobs of grease floating on top. That's an individual preference, I suppose, but I think it tastes so much cleaner and deeper without the floating grease. Xe Lua gets as close to it as I've seen, though a total elimination isn't possible--after all, it's not consomme we're consuming here. Last, but not least, are the herbs, lime, and sauce. Don't skimp on my basil leaves and dandelion leaves. I cannot, simply cannot, believe people who leave any of these herbs out of their pho! I get an insane urge to grab them off their plate when I see this. This is what perfumes the broth and elevates pho to the "Oh my god I just died and went to culinary heaven" level. Also, no lemon. It MUST be lime. Again, Xe Lua does it right. In my 12 years, I think they served lemon ONCE. It shook my phaith (sorry) to the very core, but that has been a few years and they have rectified their cheapskate ways since then. If you have not had pho ever, I think you would do yourself a great kindness by introducing yourself to it here. This was my first, and still the best, pho experience in all of east coast.
(5)Dana M.
My boyfriend and I LOVE this place. We have be eating here for years. The staff is asian and friendly, they recognize us now. We always get an order of spring rolls and two bowls of beef pho and avocado shakes. The plate of fixin's for the pho and the sauces on the table a perfect. We always get an iced Vietnamese coffee and a Thai Tea with bubbles to go. I always want to try other dishes but the pho is so good I can never pass it up. The only slight downside is that the quality of the meat varies at times. Sometime very lean, sometimes a little chewy. (But I'm picky with beef and hate fatty meat so I have issues with it almost everywhere.)
(5)Kristin W.
This has become mine and my boyfriend's favorite cheap place to go on a Sunday evening. I usually just get the same thing (veggie pad thai). He mixes it up quite a bit and has liked everything he's tried. His go to meal is chicken curry which I have to say smells amazing even though I am a vegetarian. I would give this place 5 stars however our last trip the beers we ordered were skunked, but even if that never happened I wouldn't give it 5 stars because the fish tanks freak me out and I can only sit in there if my back faces them. Two beers, two entrees, $20.40! Bam!
(4)Perry M.
This is becoming a regular for me on my trips to Philly. Taking a cue from fellow Yelpers, I had the beef carpaccio and Beef "Frank" ([sic]...that's really the way it appears on the menu) and tendon pho. I loaded it up with the herbs and a couple of jalapeno slices. There were several more slices provided, and looking back, I should've added one or two more jalapenos. Mental note to self: spice it up a little on the next trip. Still, it was tasty and very filling. The star of the meal was the iced coffee. Before you die, you have just GOT to try this stuff. Made at your table, a container of super strong espresso is set atop a glass, where the contents drip down onto a layer of waiting condensed milk. Stir it up, and pour the chocolatey brown mixture over ice. Starbucks had better hope that this stuff doesn't find it's way out of Philly Chinatown, because if it does, the green and white is in some serious trouble. The service was friendly and prompt. With the dinner I described above and a 20% tip, the bill came to $23 (which, when I think about it, is about the price of Starbucks bar drink these days.)
(5)Neels K.
Yummm... cheapest and the best thai/veitnamese! Dingy little place in china town... but the best pad thai I ever had! Loved it, loved it, loved it! Do not go here for the presentation or service... just the food. Pho was pretty good to. Lychee iced tea was really good. Surprisingly had the worst Thai Iced tea. I am going back there again!
(4)Daniel T.
I'm used to being served pho quickly without any intervention in regards to waiter-service. That's fine, I know what I'm doing with this pile of immersed food. Just hand me my bowl and I'll take care of myself, no need to ask me how my meal was or how I'm doing. However, I do always want a glass of never ending ice-water as soon as I take a seat. Pho's a long, hot, and salty journey and I'd like to make it through. Most places you have to ask for ice water and ask again once it's empty. That's why I like Pho Xe Lua, you get the water and they'll leave you alone otherwise. Pho here is above average, the noodles have some resiliency to the bite and the broth is aromatic. And when you ask for tripe, they really give it to you. Man, I love tripe. I've also had the bun bo hue, a spicy Central-Vietnamese bowl of soup. It was on-point. Reddish, hot oil slicked surfaced and out of this world lemongrass-spicy notes. Chopped pigs feet (which is key to the dish). Don't be scurred by that, I think everyone should try out bun bo hue if you like pho. I don't think the soup is getting its just due being overshadowed by its monolithic northern brethren. So if you would like to try bun bo hue, go here first to give it a proper start. There's also live tanks filled with lobsters, dungeness crabs, fish and such. I wonder if I can get seafood pho and have them dunk a lobster in my bowl. Mmm... opulence.
(5)Morgan G.
For what it is, I can't give "Choo Choo" anything but 5 stars. It is certainly borderline hole-in-the-wall, but it is cheap and so good! I am always overwhelmed with what to order (and usually make my friend order the appetizers), but this place is amazing. The portions are huge, and every single thing I have eaten has been delicious (especially the pad thai) and the raw beef dish appetizer. On my list visit, four of us shared four appetizers and each had our own entree, and we paid about $15 each. Definitely check this place out!
(5)German S.
One of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants...i kinda mixed it up today..i had fried rice noodles and seafood, ladys and gents...let me tell you it was the bombs yo! I also had a mango smoothie different fir me since I always get the ice coofee. I have no complaints about the service, like always fast and friend.
(4)Stace C.
I was really excited to try Pho in Philly since NY pretty much has a very disappointing if nonexistent Pho culture. Being that I'm from Cali, I've been spoiled and used to the amazing Pho broth. Maybe I'm asking for too much to have the same wonderful Cali Pho broth in the East Coast but Pho Xu Lua Viet Thai was a big let down. Their XL portion is huge, with a ton of meat which is a plus but the broth just didn't cut it for me. I also tried their rice plate and thought the pork chop was pretty decent, but the steam egg wasn't.
(3)Michelle Y.
I live in centre city with no cars and no desire to take the bus anywhere to get pho. So in my area, this is my go to place for pho. Sure, i've had better pho at other places, but the best one in chinatown and in the area is hands down this place. I usually get some variation of pho or the spring rolls and vermicelli with pork. And we usually get the shrimp rolls to share. It's weird they put mint in the shrimp rolls i don't like the taste necessarily, but i usually just take it out as i'm eating it... sometimes the pho has great texture noodles, perfecty chewy and just the right amount of stickiness. but sometimes, its just OK. The vermicelli tastes good but someimtes the spring rolls are a little too hard. The pork is always on point though. Service is great! They are always attentive and fast. So I never get annoyed dining here. Not always the most pleasant place to eat especially during busy hours and downstairs, but i always left here content and satisfied!
(4)Lin X.
Best bargain restaurant in town!!! Everything is so cheap but soooooooo good. After 3 years trying, nothing on the menu failed me so far. Pad thai w/shrimp and beef chow fun are my favorite.
(5)Kristen S.
Went here last night with a group of 8 friends not expecting them to have room to fit us all right away considering the place isn't very large. We were immediately sat by a friendly waiter and we all ordered a round of drinks which were extremely cheap yet satisfying. I started off with the vegetarian spring rolls which came out quickly and were hot, steamy, and delicious! Shortly thereafter, the large Pho Ga (pho with chicken) came out. The portion was more than enough for me, but it was hearty and delicious and exactly what I needed/wanted. Whoever said that chicken noodle soup was good for the soul obviously hasn't tried pho. I'm definitely coming back here soon. Great location, great food, great staff!
(4)Jasi B.
Yo son...I hate that I know live in surburbia. And I'm not too much a fan of Philly. But I think that might get better if I finally take the time to try out the food. Avocado smoothie? Oh why not? I can order one of everything on the menu and still only pay $15....oh yes please. I'm not the biggest fan of Pho but I was feeling adventurous. Don't ask which Pho I had....something with beef, lol. But that avocado smoothie? Yes ma'am and sir. It was the definitive highlight of the meal.
(4)Dave H.
This is a local favorite and one of mine! A wide variety of dishes are available to order. Service is fine. Waitstaff don't usually win points for being particularly friendly or welcoming but they come by and fill your water glasses and bring out food without any problems. I've ordered a bunch of dishes in the past: - The escargot was excellent. We ordered two kinds: one with peppers and lemongrass, the other with a coconut sauce! - Crab soup ($11 for a large bowl for sharing) was bland. - Tangy curry chicken with lemon grass ($7), recommended. - Vermicelli with grilled pork and a spring roll ($5), very good. - Miniature lamb chops ($10), delicious! The filet mignon in a lemon grass sauce ($11) was a spicy treat. Prices are reasonable, not atypical for a Chinatown restaurant. The check came quickly when it was time to go. Avoid the soup and the phad thai (it's nothing to write home about, try Siam Cuisine down the street instead). Recommended!
(4)David L.
Cheap, fast, and delicious viet fare. This place never disappoints.
(4)Michael X.
Really yummy and cheap food! All kinds of pho, vermicelli, shrimp rolls and more for around $5-6. Did I mention that the portions are enormous? Somehow you could never finish the portions. Someone mentioned pho number 106 and that's what I always get! Plenty of different sauces on the side to spice up your food! The service can be a little better though, efficient but not as friendly. My friend took a while to decide what to order and the waiter did not look too happy. Place has two stories, and there was a short line on a Saturday evening. Definitely the place to get authentic and cheap vietnamese food in Chinatown!
(4)Joshua J.
I love this place! Generally since Pho Ha is a little closer, and I tend to like their food a bit more, I go there, but if I'm in Chinatown, this is it. A little too loud, but you can tell people are having a real good time. Service here can be a little off at times, but it helps if you have a friend that speaks the language. The one thing I will say is that it's probably the cheapest most fulfilling meal you can get in Chinatown. I've left here having spent less than 15 dollars for two people with drinks.
(5)Stacie L.
Absolutely love going there. Service is okay depending on how much people is there. Usually I go and it's pretty busy so I am kinda okay with their service. Their pho are I think the best in Chinatown. The food comes out pretty quickly so theres not much wait. Their smallest bowl is a large bowl so I do recommend going when you can finish it all so you dont waste the food. :] Prices are cheap, the large bowl is like 5.50. & it's from Chinatown?! #fellinlove lol. Their bubble drinks are cool too and they always put it take-out drinking containers and not in those glasses so you do not feel like you have to rush the drink and actually enjoy the goodness.
(5)Vicki P.
the food is great. the staff is not so friendly. and i also didnt like seeing dead fish in their tank.
(2)Helen Z.
I've been coming here since I was a kid. It's def my go to place when I want something cheap and quick in chinatown. The food is ok..your average vietnamese fair. They have a pretty extensive menu, much more to offer than some of the other vietnamese restaurants in Chinatown. I've tried many items on their menu, but I tend to just order their beef & tendon pho. The broth is pretty tasty and the tendon is always tender. The raw beef (beef carpaccio) is also one of my favorite things here. Service kinda sucks, but bearable, its def gotten better over the years.
(3)John S.
came back and got the snails in coconut and basil......soooooOOO gOOd! as usual pho was amazing......gona get a large instead of an XL next time i was wayyy to full
(5)Bill M.
Climb aboard the Phooooo Train! With the Pho train you pretty much get what you pay for. The Pho definitely isn't the best that you'll find. But it's inexpensive enough to make it just above sub par. and you can't go wrong with the fact that it hooks up cheap drinks with frilly umbrellas (or can you?). It does dish out an interesting assortment of milkshakes (jackfruit!). And it hooks up a great assortment of soups and pad Thai's. But there are just factors like service, and consistent quality that makes it just fall short of being one of the the better Pho institutions of Philly.
(3)Bang T.
Choo Choo's!!! seriously one of the best Vietnamese places in Chinatown. i love their food and theres just so many that i want to list. writing this review is making me hungry... this was always the hangout spot for me and my friends since forever. i highly recommend it.
(4)Carlin Y.
The only real name for this place is "ChooChoos" -- in reference to the neon sign of a choochoo train on the front window -- and I fell in love with this place. Super cheap, super tasty, super fast Vietnamese pho in Chinatown. I try to make a pitstop here whenever I'm in the area. There's better somewhere in the nether-regions of Philly, but if you don't have the luxury to travel out to Little Saigon / Viettown, totally hit this place up if you need a nice warm bowl of noodles and soup!
(5)Woo K.
Known as "choo-choo", this restaurant is always busy and still manages to pump out quality food without making you wait very long. The wait staff is VERY helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. Portions are generous and the food is absolutely delicious. This is one of my favorites.
(4)Athena Y.
Delicious, fast, my go to pho place. My girlfriend and I go at least once a week. at 7 bucks for a huge bowl, it's the best deal a college kid can get
(5)Eric H.
Vermincelli bowl and the Pho! YUM YUM YUM YUM! Top 3 favorite Pho places.
(4)Khanh D.
I was staying with my brother in Chinatown and was craving some "bun bo hue". I did a search on yelp and this was the closes place and seeing the four stars, I was stoked! I didn't want to eat there so I called and ordered it to go. I should have hung up realizing this place was not legit when they didn't know what "bun bo hue" was from me speaking it. Despite my better judgment I went to pick it up and it was gross. There was no lemongrass smell to it (the foundation to this soup) at all. It seems like they used the pho broth and just poured it over a different kind of vermicelli and called it "bun bo hue".
(1)B B.
I like Pho. This is the best Pho I've had. It is most likely the best Pho I will ever have. It's probably the best Pho you will ever have. If you ever have better Pho elsewhere, let me know. Because, as I wrote, I like Pho.
(5)Adam P.
I have this place on speed dial. They produce affordably priced, delicious meals. Prices are the same for lunch and dinner, so it is great if you want a dinner that costs $5-7. Here are some of my favorites from over the years: -Lemon grass chicken over rice -Curry chicken over rice -Beef with bell pepper over rice -Chicken vermicelli -Chicken pho Ah, the memories. The place offers efficient service, piping hot food, and complementary tea (for dining in) during the winter time. The interior is nothing fancy, but it is the perfect place to go for a casual meal. If it gets packed, they open an upstairs seating area to relieve some of the pressure.
(5)Nham D.
I've been here twice. Ordered Pho and Bun Bo Hue for 2 times. Both were unbelievably bad. The Pho soup was really plain, my friend had Bo Kho and she said it was not any better. Today we decided to give it a second try. However, it was worse than the first time. The meat of the Bun Bo Hue was rotten, making the whole thing smell. It was just terrible. I can't imagine how one can set up a restaurant with such low quality food. I'm from VN and I lived in California for 4 years so my taste can't be wrong. They just don't know how to make Vietnamese food. Can't deny it's cheap but feel like it doesnt worth a penny. Swear to myself to never go there again. There are some good places on Washington street. If you're looking for real and good vietnamese food stay away from this place!!!!!!
(1)Jan K.
A lot of bang for the buck. I don't know that anything was EXCEPTIONAL (though my 15-year-old daughter exclaimed the [not on the menu] Chicken Pad Thai the best she'd ever had.) They did have SHRIMP Pad Thai, but the waiter (all spoke more than adequate English) gladly accommodated her request. Entrees would accommodate any tastes, from vegetarian to snail and frog fans. Veal ribs, pork chops, curries and noodle / rice / vermicelli dishes were all possibilities. Apps (Crispy Spring Rolls and cold shredded pork rolls) came quickly along with dipping sauces and daikon/cucke/carrot. ) My son's beef satay soup was ENORMOUS. Other entrees (Crispy fried fish w/ Thai sauce ) BBQ beef/ pork w/ Vermicelli were each more than enough for a single person. Two apps, and five entrees came in under $45.00. Dishes came a little spaced out, but over all service was pleasant and polite. Place was PACKED on a Sunday at Noon with local Orientals. Cheap parking down the street at 8 bucks for two hours beat the gouging lots hiking up for every Convention Center event. They even gave $1.50 off the parking. Bottom line, is they serve very good examples of standard Vietnamese and Thai dishes (over 600 items on the menu) in huge portions, where an average entree is under 10 bucks (and many huge noodle / soups are around 6. You can stuff yourself with some pretty pleasantly seasoned dishes made with good fresh ingredients on the cheap. Don't expect a sommelier to fawn on you, but they do have a variety of nice Oriental beers that compliment the dishes well.
(4)Jenny M.
Choo Choo's! I've called it this since the beginning of time, never really reading the sign out front... called 411 for the phone number and I swore to the operator the name of the restaurant was Choo Choo's. lol. Anyway, I have many a fond college memory coming here. It's right on the edge of Chinatown, and absolutely lovely food to warm yourself up with when it is freezing outside! The Pho is amazing! For $6, you can get a small (really gigantic) bowl of Pho to enjoy... The Shrimp Pad Thai is delish as well. I often have trouble deciding between the two. One of my friends just gets the fried rice because it's so good. More often than not, I order Pho to eat there, and order Shrimp Pad Thai to go and I'll eat it at home for dinner. :) The restaurant is pretty small, and always busy. It is great for large parties too, and the service is really good. There's this head guy in charge who I think pretends to not recognize me, lol (I've been coming here for 8+ years!). He's very efficient and makes things run smoothly. I miss living in Philly more for this place than for the cheesesteaks, definitely. Sometime over the years I've even gotten my Dad to love this place as much as I do, and he always calls me when he's eating here just to piss me off. I love you Choo Choo's! p.s. parking sucks. avoid it if you can!
(5)Bianca L.
I had the pho with beef, tendon, and tripe (#107) in the large size (as opposed to xl) for $5.95. I also had a martini for $4.95. The broth was incredible and the beef and tendon pieces were large and plentiful. It was absolutely delicious and such a great comfort food for what was a bad day for me. It arrived in less than 5 minutes too. I will definitely be back. Delicious, super fast service, and inexpensive. What more can you ask? I have a new favorite place for pho.
(5)Lissette J.
The train is the bomb! Food is always fresh, quick, and fabulous. A place to go!!!
(5)Caroline D.
OK, this has been one of my favorite places in Philadelphia since I moved here almost 10 years ago. I don't think anything has changed except the lovely LCD monitors picturing a slideshow of food offerings. The pho is always good, and though I am not an expert food critic, I am told it is the best around. We get the pad thai, which is a little dry but good nonetheless. Fresh and fried spring rolls are good. I just discovered the vermicelli with spring roll combo and it is really light and delicious. We always get the avocado shake with tapioca which is delish but be careful not to fill up before your food arrives!
(5)francis d.
Really big bowl and they give you an abundance of meat. The broth holds it's own.
(4)Amanda L.
Very affordable, gives big portions, i love going there. the only con is that Mexicans that work there are constantly staring at you while you are trying to enjoy your meal.
(4)Melissa J.
Cheap, fast service, good food. What more could you ask for? I came in on a weekend night with two girlfriends and we were seated immediately. You receive complimentary hot tea for the table, and it's pretty delish. We ordered spring rolls and three bowls of pho. Everything came up super quick. You need only look in the direction of your server and he is at your table, reading your mind, and already doing what you are about to ask. I ordered a large bowl of chicken. The large is pretty big and that is the smallest size. I ate maybe 1/4 of my bowl. The 1/4 I ate was very flavorful and steaming hot! I am always a fan of the "add your own" sprouts, basil, and jalapeno plate that comes on the side. Our grand total for all of that was about $30 with tip! Will definitely be back.
(4)Sarah H.
fresh. coconut. drink. it's two bucks & includes fresh coconut slices. you will not regret this.
(4)Christopher R.
One day on gchat,my friend is asking me to meet her in Chinatown for something called "pho." I look it up on Wikipedia. That sounds kinda strange, I tell her, and politely decline. I add the fact that I am a vegetarian, that a vegetarian option is not necessarily available and, even if, that seems like it would undermine the charm of the dish. She redoubles her effort. She says she will beat me up while her boyfriend watches and laughs at my helpless pleas for mercy. I give in, suspecting that she is not joking. We arrive at "Choo-Choo Pho" and she raises both arms in triumph, her childlike glee forming a chilling contrast to the menace that lurks within. She demands I try the weird kind, with the beef stomach and other alarming cuts of beef. I'm a vegetarian, I plead once again. Too bad, she says as she stares me down, leaving me no choice but to break with my ethics. The giant steaming bowl of noodles, fragrant broth and aesthetically unpleasant meats arrive. I am ordered to garnish like so. Reluctantly, I take my first bite. It is delicious, the beginning of of an epic love affair with this Vietnamese soup. It shows on my face. I knew it!, she cackles, triumphant.
(4)Ethan T.
There's always "that place" everyone goes to growing up as an established point of socialization. I found this place in high school and everything has been good and consistent. The name actually means "pho train" which is what they're known for. But unlike the other pho spots that dedicate themselves to just pho and a few rice dishes , this place has it all. It tends to get packed at times and you'll get quick and efficient Chinatown service, but this is a great lunch a dinner spot
(4)Cuong D.
I rate this place a full 5 stars. If you love Vietnamese food this is the place to go. It's the best place to go on a budget. They make the "best" avacado shake. I tried many different places and Pho Xe Lua makes the best shake there is. Their xtra large Pho is truely Xtra Large. if you really wanna go cheap you can buy one xtra large and split it with you and your friend. LOL. I am sure that is frowned upon.
(5)Debbie N.
Ok, so I pretty much stopped coming back here after the above experience. However, I came back here when I was hungry in Chinatown and craving for some pho. Thinking I was in safe territory with Vietnamese food, I ordered a bowl of pho tai bo vien. The soup tasted and looked like chicken soup. Maybe I'm a pho-snob, but in my house, beef pho and chicken soup have no resemblance. All in all, I would not recommend this place for either Vietnamese or Thai food.
(1)Anthony W.
I was claustrophobic in this place. They seated me RIGHT BY THE DOOR! There's several people coming in an out at any moment. I mean damn it was busy. Had I ordered pho like I started it would've felt like eating in a bus depot. Like I want a constant stream of debris being kicked up in my food from outside every time that door opens I'm a bit of a germophobe. Not to mention the mofos at the next table were smellin RIPE! I couldn't deal. I couldn't hang. I didn't even smell any food. I would've lit a match if I had one. So i switched sides of the table. While I looked over the menu they brought out a glass of water and I have all these damn people standing around me. I was curious about the avocado milkshake so I ordered that to go. And the second I stood up they put somebody else at my table. I didn't even get a chance push my chair in. It reminded me of mid-90's MickeyD's on Canal St. with the gypsies. I ain't tryna be rude dude just GIVE A PATRON SOME SPACE! I didn't even have room to think about what I wanted. In fair disclosure, this was during the Chinatown Block Party. Maybe the crowds were bigger than usual. Ok so about the milkshake... I didn't know what to expect. It was interesting, not bad at all. I just wished it was a little sweeter. Also, the cup it came in was pretty cool, but not cool enough to get me back in here.
(2)TJ H.
Known to the locals simply as Choo Choo, because Xe Lua translate to train in Vietnamese and there is a neon sign of a train on the front window, Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants for a college student on a budget in Philadelphia. The pho itself isn't the absolute best pho but it is pretty good. As well as their numerous other dishes. Spring rolls and egg rolls are big, fresh, and delicious. The bean sprouts and basil that come with pho and some other broth dishes can be a bit spotted but in general it's still good. I've tried many dishes in this restaurant and most are on a scale of 3.5/5.0 to 5.0/5.0 stars for me. And with the prices so reasonable you can afford to try different dishes. There of course are always some more expensive dishes offered, but they are not excessive. They also offer family style meal options which are also delicious. Some of my staples: Pho Dac Biet (House Special Pho) Hu Tieu Do Bien Thai Lan (Tom Yum Seafood Soup) Com Xao Bo Xa Ot (Lemongrass Beef with broken rice) Com Suong (Pork Chop with broken rice) One quick note: $15 minimum for charge. Happy eating!
(5)Niyant S.
This is my spot in Chinatown! I go here a few times a month, and while I haven't explored many of the vast options on their menu, I can say for sure that the food is all superb. In particular, I love ordering their Pho in the wintertime: it's cheap, tasty, and you get 2-3 meals out of it. For most people that know the place, it is actually referred to as the "Cho Cho Train" restaurant, fyi.
(5)Annie M.
The pho place I keep coming back to :) They are quick, soup is good and not too fatty, and meat is decent. The portion size is just right, and the XL bowl is HUGE. I've also tried the vermicelli bowl, which I must say I was pretty satisfied with. I got the combo which basically had every meat possible in there and all were good. My fave being the shrimp on sugarcane. They also do not skimp on the meat! I had soo much left over meat vs noodle ratio that I ended up bringing a lot of it home to make some extra vermicelli. Their fish sauce tasted good also.
(4)Shay K.
#117. Order it. Pho with white meat chicken and bean thread noodles. This is just delectable. The broth is always flavorful, the meat tender, more than enough bean sprouts, lime and vietnamese basil (i think is the herb served with it). The noodles are quite good, clear because they are bean thread noodles. One of the best pho options in Philly. My friends have ordered vermicelli with all kinds of interesting things in it (shrimp, pork, sugar cane etc) and have loved it. This was my first Pho experience, maybe that is why I keep going back to it even after having been with many other Pho places. But I just can't resist the temptation of xe lua. it's just...so... good. p.s. the place is lit with fluorescent lights and is far from impressive. Do not let that deceive you! it is very clean, has a verified inspection and everything. cheap prices may mean a less than gorgeous venue. I'm okay with that.
(3)Hoa T.
This is the place that I always try to get people to come to for pho in Chinatown. The bowl is gigantic. The amount of meat that they put in there will make your head spin and will satisfy your inner caveman. The broth is clear and flavorful as all good pho should be. Other food here are good too. However it is unfortunate that my other favorite noodle soup dish, bun bo hue, is so mediocre here or this place would have warranted a five star.
(4)Ramen F.
Ambiance: Not much to speak of. The renovations might have more of a positive effect if the place was not always packed with people and noisy. Clean and typical. Food: The food is always priced well and you know that you are going to be more than full walking out of here. The types of dishes have a huge range (just look at the enormous menu). I personally do not like Pho as much as Chinese Hand Drawn Noodles, but my friends love the Pho here. Popular dishes like green curry chicken, lemon grass chicken, beef ho fun, papaya salad, and raw beef never disappoint. This is not a gourmet foodie place - this is a comfort/classic food place for people who grew up on this stuff (or at least wish they did). Service: The service is good and very typical of an Asian restaurant. The servers are not going to fawn all over you or constantly check in. But when you do flag them down for something, they will always follow up on your request fully and quickly. Overall: I definitely like this place for its consistency, the food , and the price. I often crave food from here and it always coincidentally happens on a Wednesday (the day that they are closed).
(4)Daniel G.
Delicious and cheap, my friends and I all know this place as "The choo choo train restaurant." I was first introduced to this place by my chinese (now ex) girlfriend and her family a few years ago, and it has since become my favorite destination for inexpensive asian cuisine. The restaurant isn't especially well lit, or even impeccably clean for that matter - but I love it regardless of it's lack of ambience. The food is that good! BTW - Is there a proper way to eat shrimp paste wrapped around sugar cane? I've just been eating it like a drumstick.... but I always hide a little when I do, and feel like a tourist in my own city.
(5)Vick C.
Noodles are eatable, but not good enough to get more stars. I ordered beef Pho and beef was overcooked, soup base not favor enough, its cheap and serve with big bowl, just not that impressed of their food a lot. Restaurant have two floors, very old style atmosphere, I've experienced a better one in Chicago.
(2)Ponn Mai K.
I think that this place is over rated. The Pho is really cheap and you do get a lot for your money but this is about the taste. The taste is decent and it's all that bad. The broth was a tad tasteless, I believe it's due to all of the noodle that they toss into the bowl. If they were to make the bowl a bit smaller, and focus on the taste rather than the sizes, it would taste a bit better. The spring rolls is a spring roll. I don't care if the waiter tells me it's not a "shrimp roll" haha Spring rolls are not fried, those are egg rolls! The service is not all that great but then again, this is about the taste of the food. If you're looking to cheap Pho, this is the place to go because you get a large amount of decent food for a pretty good deal.
(3)D Y.
bbq beef, shredded pork, and steam egg over rice. it was really tasty and very reasonably priced. a busy restaurant with reasonable prices and tasty food. can't beat that.
(4)Belinda B.
Oh my gosh I want to move to Philadelphia just to eat here every night. For the prices, we probably could eat here every night and not break the bank. I had the regular beef pho - it was the best I've ever had and incredibly fresh. My husband had the pad thai, and wow, it was perfect. Not too sweet, perfect texture, fresh and hot. Oh, and the portions are huge. If you're coming from out of town, make sure your hotel room has a mini fridge!
(5)Jing G.
Came yesterday with my boyfriend and 2 friends and I left somewhat disappointed. I ordered some green mussel appetizer and a bowl of vegetable noodle soup. The mussel appetizer came out and it was dry and overcooked. You could clearly tell that they mussels were simply steamed and then had a chili-tomato sauce poured over it. Unflavorful and dry. The noodle soup I had specified to be vegetarian, but yet it still came out in a beef broth. It wasn't until we spoke to somebody higher-up (the servers are hispanic and don't seem to understand English) came out and offered to remake it. I said that it was alright, they didn't have to, but the boyfriend insisted on it. So they made me another one but it was just unflavorful and anyway, by that time everyone had finished eating.. at the very least, they do put a whole lot of vegetables on there unlike other vegetable noodle soups I've had elsewhere. Yet I guess in a noodle soup, it really is the broth that makes all the difference, and this one was simply just soy sauce in water (and that is what the chef said). I can understand if they don't specialize in vegetable noodle soup, but if you're going to offer it, at least make it decently. Otherwise, don't offer one.. Still, I do appreciate that the chef (or, whoever that was) remade it for me. It's the effort that counts, I guess. It was my first time here, and it wasn't the worst place I've gone to. It's just that everything else I sampled here off my boyfriend's order like the salt baked squid was just normal like any other place in Chinatown too. So, that coupled with a wrong order and an unappetizing starter gives it just 2 stars. I won't hurry to come back here anytime soon.
(2)M M.
Good restaurant, no complaints. Crispy Thai chicken was good and so was the pho.
(3)Joe D.
Xe Lua is not only my favorite Pho but one of my favorite restaurants. i love the papaya salad with beef jerky and the Xe Lua special Pho. it comes with plenty of beef and the tripe and tendon are always tender and delicious. their French press coffee with sweetened condensed milk is awesome but packs a caffeine punch. make sure to get an avocado shake in the to-go cup to bring with you as you check out the cool markets and boutiques in Chinatown.
(4)Steve L.
Just keeps getting worse. Finally, done.
(1)lena n.
I actually still love this place...probably because it's so dam cheap lol. However comparing food wise, it's not all that compared to other restaurants. Like their sweet and sour soup (either chicken fish or seafood) does not taste like Nam Phoung's soup (which is WAY better!). The Pad thai...taste nothing like the authentic pad thai...cuz they cook it with ketchup lol. However the BEST dishes thats most popular that I LOVE! is the raw beef - you def gotta try it with the viet sauce, its so goood! but only if you like raw stuff (aka sushi lover). The fried squid is THE BEST here! i love it! so crunchy and flavorful! lol Thai tea is yummy! Fast service too. there's plenty of them around lol. They have an upstairs and downstairs, but sometimes there's a wait if it gets too crowded. mostly on the weekends. And because of the small space, they usually sit you next to someone...moving the table about 2 inches away from yours..lol.. This is definitely the spot for good cheap food. :D
(4)Mr. Met s.
3.5 STARS Very good Pho. Had the Beef and Beef ball, 108. Hearty soup base, barely any 'msg', fresh bean sprouts/basil leaves on the side. The beef ball is generic, found in market. The beef is ok sliced beef. Ok portion of noodles, big bowl of 'soup' base that is very drinkable. Good price at 5.50 However, the rice plates are so-so. Had the pork chop with rice, and fish cake. Came with 2 leaves of fresh lettuce. The rice was ur plain old rice, not even broken. The pork chop was kind of dry, and only came with one piece. The fish cake was not good at all. Mushy. The Viet coffee was pretty good, $2.
(3)Chrissy R.
Oh pho train, I'm so MAD at you! My dining companion wanted pho but I didn't because i felt like it was too hot out for soup. I had some deluxe vermicelli and it was the nastiest thing I've ever eaten in my life. Gross enough to make me knock this place down a star. The noodles were overdone, and the fried chunks of meat on top just tasted disgusting. I like the pho here, but I'm not going here again unless it's for pho.
(2)J G.
This is my favorite pho joint in Philadelphia. Everytime I come here, I order the Extra Large House Special Pho, which is only 6.75 and gives you tons of beef. The soup/broth they use is absolutely amazing, which leads to me suspect that it's laced with crack (but who cares?). And did I mention the Thai Iced Tea is only 1.50? Amazing. Unfortunately Choo Choo is being renovated until August 21st, but once it opens back up, I'm definitely going back.
(4)Liz S.
I've been coming to this place for years. My Vietnamese college roommate introduced me to pho at this place circa 1996. And while the friendship has come and gone, my love of pho has only gotten stronger. This place is almost like a cafeteria. It's always packed, there's always a flow of people in and out, and the food comes out fast and hot. It's a little divey--but then again you're in Chinatown. If I walked into a swanky pho place in Chinatown, I would immediately walk out because that's not normal. The goi cuon is very good. The pho is above average (you can taste lots of star anise) but a touch on the too-salty side. The vermicelli dishes are average. Back when I was a Vietnamese food newbie, I would have unhesitatingly given this place 5 stars. But now that my Vietnamese palate has become a bit more sophisticated (thanks to the Denver, CO Vietnamese food scene--what UP Federal Boulevard woot woot!) this place gets 3 stars.
(3)Jenn W.
I have been here couple of times, sits on corner, it was closed-temporarily, for remodeling, .My parents like It there. Their variety of Pho & soup dishes , amazing, actually too big...but nice assortment. The waitstaff & service is good, like the summer rolls, & soups are good, but of course, when its Hot out, not craving soup!! not just yet!!
(4)J K.
My husband works near Chinatown and for ages I've been listening to him rave about the $5.95 bowl of seafood noodle soup he gets for lunch at the Viet-Thai restaurant every Friday. Finally got to test it out myself last weekend and it is just amazing! The soup comes in a big bowl and is served with a plate of bean sprouts, herbs and slices of lime. He puts all the stuff in the bowl and squeezes in the lime... eating is a bit of a challenge but it seemed best to use a combination of the spoon plus chopsticks for fishing out the noodles and fish. There was a variety of seafood in this dish, shrimp, squid, mussels and something that looked like slices of fish cake. While we tried some other things on the menu, I have to say this soup was the best thing we had! This place doesn't have much atmosphere, but hey, its cheap. Beer is $3 a bottle. This place is a bargain. Most of the people around us seemed to be ordering some kind of soup...probably the pho that I saw on the menu. I also saw quite a few people eating snails. They have some unusual stuff on the menu like frog legs. I'm sure we'll be back to try other things, but for now I'll recommend that seafood soup! (FYI the seafood soup is number 126 on the menu).
(4)Phil T.
Deep inside my cynical heart is a little Choo Choo train full of pho. Pho Xe Lua, don't ever change.
(5)Samantha M.
I learned I am the sign of a horse. Horses must be allowed to show their emotions. They are hotblooded, hot-tempered, and impatient,and they will gladly demonstrate. In love, Horses are quite vulnerable. They give up everything for the object of their affections. This causes them trouble since they are such impulsive creatures! They must learn to use caution. If one has a Horse in their house, you can bet the Horse receives most of the attention. Horses like being the hub and have everything revolving about them. In return, they work hard and share with everyone. My mate should be a tiger! That's what I learned cause I was waiting so long to be waited on. Seriously we waited a good 15 minutes before we were about to walk out and someone finally came over. Hmmm now what did I have the chicken or pork? Funny I couldn't tell the difference because when I tasted my friends plate it tasted the same.
(2)Cindy L.
The best thing about this place is that you don't have to crave pho to think that pho here is the best thing you'll ever have. This was my go-to place in college, and even though I've moved since then, it will still be my go-to place in Philly. The prices are affordable, the place is group friendly and the service is quick. And that's really all you can ask for. So if you're hungry, don't hesitate.
(5)Josh G.
Oh, Choo Choo. How we love you. Living down the street, most of our takeout meals come from this small place on the corner of Chinatown. And they have never let us down. I've never eaten in the actual restaurant, but the takeout has always been ready in 10 minutes or less. We usually get the Tom Yum soup, which is one of the few dishes with strong Thai flavors and just the right amount of spice. Sometimes I wish that they had a smaller portion, as the current menu option is too big for an appetizer or afternoon snack. Any of the rice/noodle dishes with BBQ pork, lemongrass chicken, or minced shrimp are fantastic. Not a huge fan of the spring rolls, but if you get any of the combo dishes you won't be disappointed. We've gotten the Pad Thai a couple of times, but the flavor/texture is never quite as good as it is at other Thai places in the city. The only other reason for not 5 stars is that the chicken/pork can sometimes be a little on the fattier side. A mouthful of fat overwhelms spices/flavors every time.
(4)Catherine K.
Cheap, large bowls of pho!! This place is always busy which is always a sign of a good restaurant. I wish there were more pictures on their menu... I would probably be more adventurous if I knew what I might be getting myself into.
(4)Eric R.
Def the most inexpensive Pho I've had in the city.. Very popular spot I think. Not much too the place itself. I highly reccommend if you're trting ro get your Pho fix
(4)Lil T.
I was very disappointed when I tasted the food there. Originally from SoCal, I know my vietnamese food and this restaurant is so bad. I read the menu and wanted almost everything on it. But I had to limit myself so I ordered 3 things. 1) pho 2) bun thit nuong (dry rice noodles with BBG pork) 3) chao tom (shrimp on sugarcane). The pho broth was plain without spices, lots of MSG, and the meat was tough. The dry noodle was okay but the BBQ pork was again plain, no seasoning/taste to it. And the shrimp on sugarcane was the worst. OMG, it tasted like cardboard without any flavor. I would not recommend this place to anyone. I don't believe people are okay with this kind of food. It fails to represent vietnamese food. In fact I don't think any of the vietnamese restaurants in Philly represent at all. Sorry. Try Southern California in Orange County. Most restaurants there are good.
(1)Doriancita H.
This is a great small restaurant in the heart of Chinatown in Philadelphia. Easy to miss, and you might not even notice it walking by. This place is very cheap and affordable. They have a pretty wide variety of food you can choose from their menu. I always go for their vegetable noodle soup. The vegetable is fresh, it comes in huge amounts, and it is healthy, quick, and I always feel full after. I've also had their summer rolls and would say they make one of my favorite tofu summer rolls. I've also tried their green curry, definitely had better, they just don't have as much other fancy veges/ complimentary food that goes along with the dish. I see a lot of their customers order their sizzling dishes. They also have the fish tank with fresh fish, shrimp and lobster for consumers to pick some fresh seafood to be prepared and eaten at the restaurant. Don't be freaked out by it, that's just the Asian way of eating fresh seafood. I'm not sure if I have ever seen anyone actually order from there though. Food is always quick, and the menu is sooooo cheap. Great place to pop in for a quick lunch if you like Asian food.
(4)Yohann S.
Just another Pho house. Very large bowl for Large size ($5.50) and Ultra large bowl for their XLarge size ($6.50). Same prices with any other pho joint. Same meats. Same cold/indifference service like any other pho places. Don't get me wrong. The food is tasty (read: edible). But.. it just like that. Nothing different with any other pho restaurant. Oh meatballs is extra $2. I think that's a little steep, but whatever. They taste ordinary (read: edible)
(3)Katie I.
1. Pho Xe Lua, or CHOO CHOO for the more experienced crowd, is a tiny hole in the wall with a great big neon sign in the shape of a train that is impossible to miss. 2. Their Pho is delicious! I don't eat beef but I always can find a tasty (and huge) pho-style soup in their 500+ item menu, and it's accompanied by super fresh limes, cilantro and tons of cinnamon basil. 3. They have the best Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese beers for the cheapest in town! And they have martinis for $4.95. Pretty priceless and hard to beat if you ask me. Bring your friends!
(5)Gabrielle W.
I decided I wanted pho randomly the other day even though I've only had it one time in my life. I looked at all of the places on yelp and really wanted to try some of the places on Washington Ave but my boyfriend screeched "not so fast! no washington ave! someone just got shot there recently!".. I tried to explain that it was 100000% safe in the daylight but he wasn't having it. So we went to this place instead. We both had the summer rolls and the beef pho as our entree which was very good. I was really impressed with our waiter, he explained a couple items on the menu and he was easy to understand. Sometimes there are language barriers at Asian restaurants and I get stressed out that I'm going to order pigs balls or something like that because I don't know what I'm ordering so I was happy. I was also pretty pumped at how clean the place was..my garnishes were healthy and looked like they had just been washed. I'll definitely be back to this place!
(4)Andrew P.
Since Pho Ha on Washington is too far, Choo Choo hits the spot. Been craving pho the whole weekend, and what better way to skip watching the Super Bowl than grabbing a hot XL bowl of pho for $6.50!? Service is always attentive, $ is light on the wallet, and food (at least the pho) is always great.
(4)Yi H.
It's known as "choo choo" to everyone I know. I think it's the place for every asian teenagers! It brings back so much memories everytime I go there. They are known for the pho. I love the pho there, especially the thin slice beef flank and tripe pho. It's favorful and you can taste all the spices they used. I usually order the papaya salad or the summer (spring) rolls. I've discovered that they don't use as much herbs as I hoped( a bit too light for my liking). On the other hand, Nam Phuong is hardcore with the herbs which I love. I think it's mostly about the location. Choo Choo have a larger population of mix audience whereas, Nam Phuong is in a Vietnamese community. It's all about customization of the tastes.
(4)JulieJuli A.
Julie 3 1/2 stars but i'll round up. Excellent Viet spot in Philly's chinatown. I've had pho here before and it was excellent. Well prepared, and hot soup and fresh meat. i just stopped by and here's what I had. Started with the Banh Cuon Cha Lua.. or steamed flour rolls with Viet sausages that you pour sauce over. Delicious... The sausages were just ok... I really wish they would have the same exact dish but with chinese sausages instead. Summer or shrimp rolls are good as well. I got the grilled chicken and pork chop combo on top of rice for $5.50... How can you beat that. The pork was a little fatty and not as much flavor as i like, but still good. I liked the chicken better. Also had a chef special "salted baked soft shell crabs". Taste great but a little greasy. The first few bites were delicious then the grease got to me. They should call it deep fried soft shell crabs instead. I got a rainbow ice with the meal which is red beans, mung beans and some jelly like stuff mixed with ice and condensed milk. Fattening but soooo good. It's a great place for a delicious and cheap meal. No decor in the place but you're going there for the food....
(4)Caroline V.
So for a long time this wasn't on my list... I had tried it and had such a bad experience i never wanted to go back...but since all my friends LOVE this place i finally stepped back in... i'm still not a fan of their pho or their crispy spring rolls topped w. crushed peanuts?! (i like the traditional ones made with rice paper) but their bo tai chanh (raw beef w. lime juice, fried shallots with fish sauce dip) is awesome!!! So friggin GOOD. (think of it as viet style beef carpaccio) Now the last time we went we decided to get family style dishes and they were all a hit! snail with lemongrass & hot pepper: YUM! you need to use toothpicks but well worth the work salted baked soft shell crab: hmm looked/tasted deep fried to me! but it's a huge plate and it's GOOD! super fried goodness (i've had this dish multiple times...YUM) pan fried egg noodles with seafood: noodles were crispy, sauce was really good and went well w. the seafood, plus it had some veggies/mushrooms which is always nice Add a side of rice and you had 3 happy and stuffed people. We even had to pack leftovers. Food looked and tasted so good the table next to us ended up asking what it all was so they could try it on their next visit. bonus: cheap!!! 8.95 for the noodles, 13.95 for the softshell crab and 9.95 for the snails
(4)Meghan D.
Great little place in Chinatown. Have been ordering there for years. Try any of the Pho soups, the Tom Yum soup, the Satay beef with noodles, or the shrimp rolls. Affordable, fast and delicious.
(5)Erica M.
After reading these Yelp reviews, my boyfriend and I couldn't wait to try this place (we anxiously waited a week until it reopened after renovations). The food lived up to the hype...we each got Pad Thai and it was fresh, flavorful and a HUGE portion. I got the vegetarian ($8) and he got the chicken ($9) and after trying both, I'd opt for the chicken next time. Shrimp rolls (aka summer rolls) are delicious! BBQ chicken vermicelli is awesome! Service is quick, prices are great and food is excellent quality.
(5)Marissa T.
Oh yes, yes yes yes. This is the place to get Pho. It's a tiny joint in chinatown, that my friend introduced me to last week and I've been thinking about it ever since. My staples are summer rolls and beef & tripe pho. It's seriously the basis of my diet growing up and whenever I'm homesick or lost in life... I run to the nearest Pho place and chow down. I think it just grounds me, whether if it's mentally or in my tummy. The portions here are great, I got extra meat, lime and basil and they were sooo generous with it. My friend got the raw flank steak with lime juice, topped with crunchy onions, he was so excited for it because it's not a common thing to see on menus. He also got the tomyum soup and loved it. My other friend also got pho, however she got the beef + brisket variety and was really satisfied. Also, to settle my tastebuds- I got the Avocado milkshake and it was just perfect. I'll probably go here tomorrow, and twice a week for forever.
(5)Karen C.
Always my go to spot for viet food. Last night was just disappointing. I order spring rolls and a veggie dish both orders were too greasy. Service is whatever, should of known better, their Asians. Gotta excuse that. Lol. Noodle soups are alway tasty thou.
(3)Jake V.
I wanted to try this place awhile back but they were closed for renovations. Coming back on Chinese New Year, I'm not exactly sure what they renovated as it looks like every other chinese food place in Chinatown except they have monitors on the wall letting you know how the Dow Jones Industrial is doing along with the weather as if stock brokers and meteorologist come in for a steaming bowl of Pho constantly. Besides that, I had green curry chicken and my fiancee had vermicelli with bbq pork and spring roll. We were sufficiently fed and happy with the result. I have a little regret that I didn't try to Pho but maybe next time I have a hankering for soup and stock information, I'll give this place another whirl.
(4)Retset Y.
This place is great and inexpensive. Double-whammy! No, seriously, go to here. Raw beef salad. Awesome and fresh! Chicken curry. Amazing and cheap, like $5?! Love this place!
(4)Dave W.
The last two times I came here, it was closed. Is it really open?
(1)Dan L.
Some of the best Pho I've ever had! Had an early dinner there last night. Place is small but they're very efficient bringing everything out so there's a lot of turnover. Don't expect an inviting ambiance with warm attentive waiters. The atmosphere is cold, but not rude. But who cares? I came here for traditional south asian food. And that's exactly what we got. Great spring rolls and very traditional Pho. Tripe and all! Dinner for 2, appetizers, entrees and a couple drinks for under $30. Great place, will be going back.
(4)Justin B.
Great place to grab some Thai and super cheap! I was surprised at the amount of food I got for under $20
(5)Justine W.
I love this place, pho realz. It's cheap, it's fast, and, most of all, it's delicious. I love this place so much that I used to go by myself after work to have a date with just me and my bowl of pho. Those were good times. And even now it is still a place I frequent with my friends often. I've never gotten any food other than pho here, but I've had friends who love the vermicelli bowls just as much as I love menu item 101. When I'm feeling less meaty, I go with 110. But regardless, it's all delicious.
(5)Jelyn F.
My boyfriend and I have been coming here regularly for years. It's always our go-to spot for Pho therapy.
(5)May T.
I'd say this is one of the best pho places in Chinatown, but not Philly overall. The prices are remarkably cheap for the amount of food you get, be it a large bowl or pho or a bowl of bun. I'd come to Pho Xe Lua for a bowl of pho before swinging in Pho 75 or Vietnam Palace. It's just easier on the wallet and more food for your buck. So I suppose if you're in the Chinatown area and in the mood for pho, swing down here. But if you're in south philly or otherwise, you know what to do: go to Washington Ave.
(3)Noah G.
I live by the food modo I'll try everything twice (except for durian bubble tea, good God, what the F is that S??). The first time I got the Pho Special from Xe Lua and saw the gelatin meat cube that I believe is called tendon (for any Hungarians out there it looks exactly like head cheese) in it I was visably disappointed. Either way I hid it at the bottom of the bowl and hoped that it would disinigrate into the soup. It definitely didn't and I gagged it down. Christmas night we went back and I went for the Pho special again because I was worried I would be missing something if I gave up on the tendon after one try. I wasn't, it was gross. The rest of the ingrediants were very good though and I'd give the Pho 4 stars minus tendon. The second time I got it, knowing I might not enjoy the Pho with the meat jello in it I also got the salt and pepper baked squid. It was so chewy it was like eating gigantic braces bands. The flavor was really good but it took me the entire length of Money Ball to finish it (literally). 4 Star Pho san the jello meat / 2 Star chewy squid / 2 star movie *In 7th grade I made a diarama of a cell in gelatin, some of you may have as well, that's exactly what the tendon looked like...mitocondria gross!!!
(3)Ali B.
Amazing pho. Great prices. Delicious broth. All the fixings. I have nothing else to say. Go. Go as much as you can and as often as you can. Beer available. Quick, friendly service.
(5)Enid C.
Going on five years in Philadelphia, and "Choo Choo" (affectionately named, in reference to the neon train in the window) is my most frequented restaurant in the entire city. Why? The food is good, it is plentiful, it is cheap, and comes out at the speed of an African swallow (which if you didn't know, is pretty darn fast). This place is always teeming with locals, and they make good use of their downstairs and upstairs seating areas. Service and ambiance could always be better, but if these things are important to you, then I don't know why you came looking in Chinatown in the first place. Definite recommendations: - Pho - of any kind (and get the meat raw on the side). You can find better quality pho along Washington Ave, but nowhere else in Chinatown will you find it as cheap, as fresh, or as large. - Beef carpaccio (raw flank steak with lime) - don't be intimidated by the word "raw." Just think of it as like a Vietnamese, red meat ceviche. - Fruit smoothies - with real fresh fruit! Avocado is my personal fav, but there are plenty of other winners too. There is an extensive menu - and I mean EXTENSIVE - with other delicious rice dishes and vermicelli. Be warned though, the summer rolls are not fantastic. They also have domestic beers available for about $3 a pop. Great for a quick lunch or late night. Word of Advice: Even though the word "Thai" is in the title, don't come here looking for Thai, not even a little bit. Stick to the Viet stuff, and you will leave a happy, stuffed camper.
(4)Andrew K.
Visiting from Northern Virginia. It was one of best pho restaurants I've eaten recently. .. The price was also excellent. I would go back whenever I visit Philadelphia. Order spring rolls with your pho...
(5)Victor C.
Whenever I say Xe Lua to anyone, they look at me like some type of weirdo. But when I mention choo choo, they're like "OH, I love that place!". It's the same place... I've been eating here since I was a kid. I remember the food quality being better from years ago. OR, I'm just a picky snob now. Who knows. Their service is still fast and rushing, though. My last trip to choo choo's was after a Kelly Drive run. I was starving. I ordered banh beo (rice cakes) and bo luc lac (stir fried beef cubes). My friends ordered a goi cuon (summer roll) and pad thai (stir fried rice noodles). I love their Pad Thai here. The other stuff, not so much. The banh beo was missing the tiny dried shrimp, which I like. The dried pork that was sprinkled on top had a funny taste (expired?). Bo luc lac is supposed to be stir fried filet mignon, according to their menu. The meat was so tough that I thought it was stir fried beef chuck. It also had way more peppers and onions than beef. I don't think bo luc lac is even supposed to have onions and peppers in it. I know their pad thai isn't very authentic, but it's still delicious! Don't forget to add the lime to the noodles. The only times I come here are when friends choose to. If I'm craving Vietnamese food, I go to Washington Ave. Don't forget to grab a bubble shake!
(3)Aliya Z.
All the things to try are variations of Vietnamese soups! They are really good. But the problem they don't have the pictures in their menu, so really difficult to identify how the dish would look like in reality. Try to see some yelps photos first.
(4)Michelle Y.
I love Pho Broth, but not the noodles... so I ordered the Lemon Chicken rice platter and asked for a bowl of Pho broth on the side, and they were able to accommodate, free of charge!! 1 appetizer, 3 entrees for $25.. can't beat that :)
(5)Keith C.
This is the place to go if you want authentic Vietnamese food. Price is cheap and portions are large. Always tastes great with fresh ingredients. Fast service and friendly staff. We always park at the indoor valet Wilson Parking lot on Race street between 9th and 10th streets. Cheapest parking lot in Chinatown. No worries about tickets or bumps or scratches from other people who can't park when leaving it on the street. It's just a half block walk to the restaurant. My afternoon is complete!
(5)Igal K.
What an amazing gem! Unlike most Pho restaurants in the city, this one offers a vast menu that includes not only Pho (the signature soup) but many specialty dishes. Their Pho is also amazing because it has about 20 variations and does include seafood Pho (a rarity in the city as well) The place itself is rather old, which gives it a dirty look but it's just the look, I do believe that they pass their sanitary inspection with flying colors.
(5)Keran C.
I was a little skeptical of how the food would be from the looks of the place from the outside. However, it was amazing. Despite being busy, we were seated quickly.The waiter knew the menu and recommended us great options according to our preference. We ordered the Beef and tendon Pho, Chicken Green Curry , and vegetable egg rolls. All three were AMAZING! Pho- the broth was very flavorful. You could taste each ingredient in the broth. So we knew it was freshly made. The beef was high quality beef-- good color, good scent, and tender. (5.95 for a large which we both ate and still had some left over). Green Curry with Rice- Again, very flavorful and fresh. The curry was spicy enough to give you that zing...however, not enough to over power the other flavors of the dish. The mushrooms and green beens were fresh. Vegetable egg rolls: It is pretty hard to make a bad vegetable egg roll. But to make one that actually stands out from the rest is a challenge. And Xe Lua Viet Thai (also known as choo choo) has succeeded. Crispy on the outside with tender vegetables on the inside. Lovely... Restrooms- In the back of the restaurant. We did not visit them so I do not know if they are clean. Parking- Street parking with meters. Hard to find but worth the fight. There are also parking lots around the area. However, these cost about 10$ per hour. Cost: REASONABLE. All three dishes cost less than 20$. Pho Large serving is only 5.95$ Ambiance- Very casual. Crowded. Loud. Suggestions: Have lunch or dinner there and then walk around China town and pick up a pastry and coffee from one of the many bakeries in the area. The only reason the place is not a 5 star is because it lacks in decor, space, and a proper bar/lounge area. You will see what I am saying if you get the chance to eat there. Bot overall, a place I would recommend.
(4)Bruce B.
I'll be short and sweet (a first for me!) Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai or affectionately know as "Choo Choo" in Chinatown. is the biggest bang for your buck in Chinatown along with Tasty Place. The food is good and two people can feast on $20 bucks and I mean feast. I gotta give a shout out for their amazing fruit smoothies (Strawberry!!) WOO WOO!! all aboard!
(4)Sarah P.
Best pho broth in the area! I'm also a fan of their pad thai.
(4)Kim C.
I highly recommend this place. I always get their seafood noodle soup. Its broth is very tasty. I need to expand my food palate. However, I just can't resist but getting the same thing every time I am there! So good & it is cheap!
(4)Onias D.
Perfect. Yet 4 stars, only because I hold out hope for something comparable to west-coast-pho. That being as it may, so good. No non-sense service. I mean, you ask for 'veggie pho' and its what you get minus the snooty/ dumbfounded attitude. Also, they got booze, booze plus coursed options w/ suggestions. This is the sort of place that if I were single would bring a date AND get lucky. Not in the heart of China town, between it and the highway, so, you know, no where to run. Moreorless at the center of that whole 'north 8th - 12th' center city scene. Date spot, great broth, booze, helpful service/menu!
(4)Issa M.
Cockroaches in the pho! I have been to this restaurant several times and always liked the food. But I went again with some friends last night and guess what we found in one of our bowls of pho? A cockroach. Yes, you read it correctly. There was a cockroach, dead and looking as though it had been there a while, floating in the pho. We stopped eating and complained, of course. What was most disturbing was that the waiter look unsurprised! It was clearly not the first time this had happened. And he offered to get us more pho. Needless to say, we refused. Obviously the entire pot was contaminated. Although the manager/owner apologized, it was only after it became clear that other diners began to notice. We didn't pay for the pho, any of it. But they still charged us for the rest of the food we had already eaten (mostly apetizers). Apparently pho is made in advance and sits around for a while to ferment. The same pot is used for days. So if the establishment is not careful about cleanliness, things can fall in the pot. We will never go back.
(1)John M.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in the city. Their food is good, cheap, and they have a lot of options. Also, they have $3 beers and $5 mixed drinks.
(5)Natalie B.
You get a lot of food for a good price, but their pho is only decent. It's a bit bland. I've also had the raw beef with lime which was diviiiine. I haven't tried their other dishes, but from looking at my friends', they look legit. I like their avocado milkshake, too. Seating is a little weird, but I think they do what they can with their small space. We sat at a table for four that was about an inch away from a table for two. The couple looked kind of peeved (sorry!). The service isn't particularly bad, but they could be a little more attentive. Overall, Pho Xe Lua is a pretty average place. Brownie points for having both a name and nickname that's fun to say.
(3)Jennifer T.
People who've been going to this place as long as I have all know that it's really called CHOO CHOOs =) I mean, with a neon train in the front window, what else could this place be called?? But name, aside, those who know Choo Choo also know that they have some of the best fruit smoothies, particularly the Avacado, Durian (for the brave) or Strawberry. Some of the other notable dishes from here include the Vietnamese beef carpaccio (Bo Tai Chanh) and the Bo Luc Lac (Lemongrass Beef Cubes with Watercress Salad). A couple other of my favorites include the Thai coconut mini escargots and the beef sate stew served with wide rice noodles......yum!!! Think I need a a Choo Choo fix right now! Haha
(4)Constance A.
My friend brought me here when I went down to Philly to visit him. I've had Pho in NY and NJ. Comparing them to this place, Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai is okay. My friend and I ordered beef pho and spring rolls for appetizers. Both were good. Nothing special. It is a big bowl of pho at a very good (cheap) price. So I cannot complain.
(3)Ida C.
My first experience with Vietnamese food was nearly a decade ago at Xe Lua (aka Choo Choo's) on a hot summer day after the X-games. I was totally grossed at the prospect of avocado milkshakes and hot soups, but was willing to give them a shot because my friends were so insistent. It turned out to be a fantastic food gamble! The restaurant was crowded that day and has been every weekend day during lunch as long as I've been a patron there. The air conditioning felt blessedly cool, and the atmosphere was loud and jovial. We were ushered to a table on the first floor and seated with little fanfare. It was decided that I would be trying the Hu Tieu Xa Te Bo (beef satay soup with flat rice noodles) ($5.50) and an Avocade Milkshake ($3). It was love at first inhale on the sate and at first taste on the milkshake. Having only experienced them in guacamole and sushi, I never imagined that avocados could taste so good sweetened. It was smooth, creamy and wonderfully cooling on the hot day. The old fashioned glass and cherry added to the fun! The sate was complex and rich with lots of spices and a satisfying kick! The noodles were flat thick chow fun rice noodles and went very well with the soup. I was a fan of the generous beef chunks and the whimsical population of pineapple chunks inhabiting my bowl. At tens of subsequent visits, I've tried many other things on the menu and found nearly everything to be great value and large portions, but my favorites are still the beef satay noodle soup and the avocado milkshake. The pho is also quite satisfying and comes in thrillingly large bowls. PARTING THOUGHT: Leftovers never taste as good as the restaurant experience because the noodles get all soggy and the sate gets super oily, so I'd recommend not taking your extra soup noodles home, even though portions are huge
(4)Helen L.
First trip to Philly. Plenty to see. Plenty to taste. I walked through many neighborhoods and considered many locations for dinner, but somehow my belly led me here...to the Pho. I thought the Pho was good, but FAR from the best I've ever had. Rating for the Pho would probably be 3.5 stars. The five stars are for the cheap liquor. Cheap, as in affordable. Not cheap, as in low quality. Asians don't drink "cheap" liquor. It's the law. Shots of Absolut were under four bucks and they pour high. I was just excited they had a bar with hard liquor. Authentic spots like this don't usually shell out for a liquor license.
(5)Stephanie Y.
This place is good for cheap eats and super speedy service. We usually come late at night. Pho is usually a pretty good choice, #107. Beef carpaccio is you're feeling adventurous. You can pretty much point to anything on the menu and be pretty satisfied with it. They also make pretty good shakes. Mango is my favorite flavor and it's perfect in the summertime!!!
(3)Michael S.
I've never had pho before. But, I gaurentee you I will be having it again, and chances are I will be going back to Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai for it. The bowl was huge, the meat was delicious, and the broth was so tasteful. For $6 you get an enourmous bowl of soup, noodles, meat, seasoning that will replace any meal. I added some sriracha to it for a little kick and was more than satisfied with my meal after I was done. I don't have much to compare it to, but my friends say this place is the best for Pho. So far for me it is too.
(4)Barrett L.
Came here last night craving pho since our go-to was closed. Like many of the places nearby in Chinatown, it's pretty much a hole in the wall, but if you can get beyond the dive-y feel, the pho is actually pretty good. I got the beef special pho, which contains beef flank, tendon, and tripe. I've never had tripe before, so eating it for the first time was an experience (it doesn't taste like anything, it just looks weird and knowing what it was as I was eating it didn't help either, but I still ate it). But overall, the pho here is pretty good: not too bland, not too spicy, and definitely filled with tons of ingredients. I got a lot more beef in my bowl here than at other places. Both of us got the XL bowl, which proved to be too much pho per person. I also got an avocado milkshake, which was sweet, creamy, and delicious. Overall, this is a great, cheap, and very filling dive-y spot with good Pho. Next time I'll just stick to something with less organ meat.
(3)S R.
Ordered the Pho and loved it! The meal was delicious, though the restaurant itself was fairly loud. Incredibly great value for a great meal.
(4)Christina S.
Constantly being on the hunt for perfect Pho, Yelp pointed me in the direction of PXLVT. The restaurant was pretty crowded when we first entered so we had to wait about ten minutes for a table. It kind of feels like you're standing over the people sitting closest to the door being that there is no real waiting area (other than outdoors). Being that we were kind of in a rush, we both ordered the sliced chicken Pho and some spring rolls. Both were great. The server could have been a little more friendly, but I can't complain too much being that we got delicious, inexpensive food in a short amount of time. The tables stayed full, and the turn around was pretty amazing. I will definitely go back.
(4)Christina K.
First off, I would like to say that of all the Vietnamese Restaurants in Chinatown, this has got to be my #1 favorite. That being said, I frequent this place as often as I can. I have my boyfriend hooked on this place too. The staff has been the same for as long as I can remember and they get the job done. Not overly friendly but the service is quick and attentive. Plus, whenever I order take out, the guy who works the counter never charges me tax. They take care of their regulars, that is one aspect of many that keeps me loyal. I have ordered a variety of different things on the menu and cannot remember a time when I was disappointed. My boyfriend swears by their Pho and raves about it to anyone who will listen. My favorites are: the Raw flank steak appetizer; Banh Cuon Cha Lua (Steamed rice crepe with pork sausage) any of their BBQ chicken, pork or beef with lemongrass over broken rice combos; Bun Bo Hue (Spicy beef noodle soup); any of their Rice Vermicelli combos, and either an iced cold Vietnamese coffee, or creamy avocado milkshake. All amazing and keeps you coming back for more and more. If you're questioning on where to go for Vietnamese food in Chinatown, look no further, you have reached your destination.
(5)KT L.
The beef pho noodle soup is just okay here, I've had better flavor at the restaurants down on Washington Ave.
(3)Kimberly P.
Love this place! Delicious and generous amount of pho (especially if you get a small bowl) and stupendous bun bo hue! One of my favorites in china town.
(4)Shawn B.
Fast seating, fast service, food was delectable! I stopped during the lunch rush, I was seated quickly , received GREAT SERVICE.... Walked out full, and happy! Definitely worth a look!
(5)Peter K.
Very good pho. Open late too.
(5)Nora S.
Had the bun. The pork was really excellent, but the shrimp was not great. The vermicelli were also much bigger than I've had at other places and I didn't prefer it that way. Not the greatest I've had in the city, so I wouldn't make a special trip up there when I could just go to Wash Ave. Update: Went again. Sad dead crab floating in tank. Mushy pho noodles. Won't go again.
(2)Nataly N.
Eh, not sure if tonight was an off night for them, considering all the raving reviews... But I came in here starving (so things should automatically taste 10x better) and came out with a very disappointing experience. I would stick with the beef noodle soup (Pho Tai) which features very tender and nicely cooked slices of beef, instead of the one with beef and brisket - which I chose today. The brisket is cooked to the point where it is dry and flavorless, and the broth is a bit on the thinner side as far as Philly pho joints go. The noodles were also over-cooked. I also tried the minced shrimp on sugarcane appetizer, but really regretted this choice after seeing that there was barely any shrimp wrapped around a really big sugar cane stick. Not only have I had it better elsewhere, but for some reason, this appetizer also took a really long time to arrive. The worst was the service, even by Chinatown standards. Most places in this neighborhood have awkward service, but it seems like most of the servers here don't even try. I had barely sat down and set down my purse when someone asked me (twice) if I was ready to order. Once I ordered, the food took a while to arrive, and the service was completely nonexistent after that. I may or may not return. They do, however, offer alcoholic beverages, and they do take some credit/debit cards.
(3)Mai N.
Its my first time at Choo choo's, the resturant's popular nickname. When walking in, it's easy to suddenly feel just a bit overwhelmed: the smell of clearly Vietnamese cooking hits you and the sound of bustling customers are present. The bar is a bit over decorated but the dining area is simplistic and well designed. You're immediately seated and there's always space despite being popular. The place is definitely popular, and the establishment is very legitimate in what they advertise themselves as: a Vietnamese and Thai resturant. (Though its mostly the Vietnamese part that I pay attention to.) The condiments are all there (best sign!), the prices are reasonable, and the food is done with clearly family recipes that one would definitely find in a Vietnamese home. The atmosphere is great, the decorations a bit tacky but tasteful. The music that they play is usually Asian, mostly Vietnamese and I had to smile at their selections because they were popular songs that my family listens to whenever we all get together to have a feast. The menu is in Northern Vietnamese but the dishes taste just a bit Southern. (This is a good thing, guys.) I had gotten a rice dish, number 204: rice with BBQ pork, shredded pork, and steamed egg that had its usual lettuce, cucumber, carrot and radish side dish that would be present. While it reigned true to Vietnamese cooking (and trust me I was quite impressed that my date had picked out a place that reminded me of Vietnam so clearly), it was averagely sub par at most. It was good though, don't get me wrong. It's mostly personal preference and a bias of my grandmother's cooking, I'd suppose. Lettuce was a bit too hard, the nuoc mam is a bit sweet but not overly spicy (disappointing for me but perfect for people who've never had it before and do not mind a bit bit of sweetness in in their sauces), but the meat well prepared and seasoned properly. I enjoyed tearing through a dish such this that i haven't had in a long time. But I've had better. The staff is productive, not too friendly but not rude: they come and then they go. Due to how's it usually busy and bustling, they are only there when you need them. It'd best to to try to to get their attention when you're ready to order, don't sit there waiting. The complimentary tea is great and well picked although their tea pot isn't well suited for people who aren't used to drinking tea, and at worse, annoying to tea-drinkers such as myself when trying to pour as it spills when you finish pouring. (Ordering a drink would probably be best. If you're of age, try the bar seeing as I can't give a proper review of that.) There's not much hassle about payment, you pay for your meal when you're done and leave the blackbook to an employee and then you're out on your way. They clean up once you're out so try not to leave too much of a mess but don't clean it up for them. I wouldn't mind going back, perhaps to try their pho and see whether they know how to make a good broth or not. But I do recommend trying the place out if you ever need a good Vietnamese comfort or an adventurous mood for Thai, try here if you've got $10-$20 to spend if you're a party of two or more. (Don't forget to tip.)
(3)AJ A.
Slow service.... But a lot of servings
(2)Jenny J.
I wish I could give this place ZERO stars. Too bad that's not an option. I've been a loyal customer here for years and consistently go here for Pho when I'm in Chinatown or taking a lunch break from work. This happened to me about three months ago, but since I decided to start yelping again, I feel strongly to write this and put this out there. I usually get the pho. When I got it, it had a visible piece of hair. I usually don't like to make a fuss about wrong orders or my orders at all, but come on... a visible piece of hair!?! So I call one of the waiters over and he sees it and takes my bowl away. Less than a minute later, I get my food back and guess what... THE SAME PIECE OF HAIR IS STILL THERE and it just looked like they stirred the other stuff around. I really wanted to walk out at that point... anyway, don't ask me what ended up happening, but needless to say, I WILL NEVER BE RETURNING TO CHOO CHOO'S AGAIN AND WILL BE ANTI CHOO CHOOS FOREVER. Go to Pho Ha in South Philly if you want some decent service or Pho. Choo choos is garbage.
(1)Jen W.
Best Pad Thai (phad thai) ever! And the raw beef with lime juice is my favorite appetizer. Pho is pretty good and the drinks selection is pretty vast. You can buy alcohol here!
(5)Rr R.
I went here last week because I was looking for a good pho spot downtown, and it was great! I ended up going there for lunch two days in a row...medium-rare beef pho both times. The service is quick, the prices are cheap, and the bowl is huge. Extra-large is just too big for me, but the large pho is plenty big enough. I also had the spring rolls (delicious), and one of the best cups of coffee I've had in a long time.
(4)Andrea P.
A great place to go if you are in center city and want a delicious but inexpensive meal. Viet Thai is one of my favorite places to go. You get huge plates of food for a really small price. I like all of their spicy rice dishes. I have been so many times and have never been disappointed.
(5)Ramya K.
Favorite restaurant in Philly by far. It's super cheap, the waiters are really nice, you get a TON of food, and it's really yummy. They also have a lot of variety, which is good for me since I'm very picky. I love the pho, the BBQ chicken, and the stir fried chicken with rice. It's a whole lot of food for around $6 each. I also got one of the Vermicelli dishes once, and it lasted me for three full meals. The highlight of the restaurant for me are the fresh fruit smoothies. I highly recommend the coconut smoothie with bubbles. I think I've been going here at least once a week, if not more, and I haven't tired of the food yet.
(5)Michael H.
The kitchen knows what it is doing. Really good Pho, curry and BBQ. Waitstaff is prompt and efficient and the bottled beer is cold. The neon train is just an added bonus!
(4)Victoria T.
Pho Xe Lua is not a large place, but it's bigger than it seems since it has second-floor seating. It seems like it'd be best for parties of 6 and under. Despite having small areas, the restaurant is not crowded. It has a clean, simple design, and Vietnamese pop plays quietly in the background. I was really surprised at how clean the bathrooms were, too. They were impecable, and even had those Xlerator hand dryers. For a smaller restaurant, Xe Lua has quite a large menu. It includes a category of "Chef's Specials," which is a total mixed bag of dishes from beef, pork and shrimp to frog and lamb. It offers dinners to be shared for parties of 2, 4, 6, and 8. Alcohol is featured at the forefront of the menu as well as the store, but I just had some Thai tea ($2, cheap!) while waiting for my friend. I observed a mixed clientele, ranging from white to hispanic to Vietnamese. I ordered Pho Tai Nam. Pho here comes in two sizes, large ($5.95) and extra large (6.95). Xe lua indeed! It came quickly, and the large was huge! I couldn't finish. My friend Michael is what he calls a picky eater and what I call crazy - he asked for his with no vegetables. Somehow, it came with onions and scallions anyway. Poor Michael! He ate it anyway. The broth here is light, tasty, and not oily at all. Michael and I both agreed that it could use more meat flavor though. Perhaps it was a little too light; we felt it was a muted flavor. I was very happy to see pink meat, something I've missed for a while. As I separated my slices of rare steak, the ones in the middle were even more pink! Finally I could see my meat cook in the broth. Sadly, it wasn't very flavorful either, but a bit dry. I thought it was pretty good overall, but something must have been wrong with me that day. I didn't come close to finishing. Did I subconsciously think it wasn't very good, or was I just not feeling pho that day? I was definitely hungry; I'd been walking around Philly all day sightseeing. Oh well. It's probably worth coming back, but if I were to eat pho again in Philly, I'd give another restaurant a try. Rating Breakdown: Taste (10/14): Broth flavor- 4/5 Noodle & meat quality- 3/5 Garnish selection- 1/2 Portion size- 2/2 Restaurant (13/16): Service- 4/5 Cleanliness- 4/5 Atmosphere- 3/4 Speed of arrival- 2/2 Total: 23/30 Read more at phoacrossamerica.com
(4)christina g.
Pretty good. A little hole in the wall place with dated decor. The pho and crispy spring rolls were both sufficent. Two of us ate here for a total of $18. Service was good and quick. After we sat down and ordered, our food came out in like 5 mins!! My steak however was really fatty but my fiancé's was better... Maybe I just got a bad cut or something. We will return here again if we are in the city and need a cheap meal... Won't go out of our way however.
(3)Helen T.
Service was fast. I ordered bun bo hue and it was a disappointment. The broth tasted watered down and the dish itself did not have much flavor in it either. However, the wait staff was courteous and the portions they served were bigger than most other Vietnamese restaurants. The pricing was also on par with what you expect.
(3)Nicole H.
Best Pho I've had in Philly. After living in SF for a year, I was hesitant to even try the Vietnamese soup in my dear Philadelphia, out of fear I'd be 1) disappointed and 2) depressed/nostalgic. But I tried this place on a recommendation from a friend and could not have been happier. For 6 bucks all in I ordered the #102 to go. It was packaged perfectly - one of the things I love about pho is the process of making it yourself. Every single part of the soup was excellent - the broth, the meat (better quality than SF I must say), the noodles...even the sprouts! Highly HIGHLY recommend this spot to anyone who loves Vietnamese or is looking to try. You will not be disappointed!
(5)Olivia J.
Went with a bunch of friends because we were all craving pho. We were in a rush but we were seated quickly and the food came out super fast, too. We left the restaurant like 30 min after we got there. I got pho, or dish 105. It was good - I liked the meat in it. Broth was kinda plain, I thought. So far I've had pho at three places in Philly and I think my rank of pho at these places goes like this: Nam Phong over this place (choo choo train haha) over Saigon Cafe.
(3)Shine W.
They are closed on Wednesdays. This place has decent Vietnamese food if you don't want to head all the way down to South Philly. In Chinatown, this place gets packed on the weekends. The Pho was good, but I wish they had the tiny trays to put Siracha and Hoisin Sauce. I ended up having to put the sauce in my tea cup. Service was ok, my waiter looked pissed off but I'm sure he was just having a bad day.
(3)Dana M.
I have only had pho one other time before this and I was not disappointed. I came with 10 people and they seated us right away. I got 102 (pho with beef) and the serving sizes are big and filling and the meat Is really good. They have a large variety on their menu and are very friendly. Prices are pretty fair.
(4)JJ L.
I use to hear they have bad service, but it's great here. Maybe they used to have a lack of servers speaking a bit of English and people misunderstood it as bad customer service...? I like them, they do great. It's cheap and yummy food! Can't go wrong. Their cured raw beef with peanuts, Thai basil leaves, and fish sauce is bomb btw. So good. And it's cured enough. Great curry as well!
(4)Kyle D.
Holy smokes this place is the real deal! Awesome crazy staff that reach right in front of your face and deliver pounds of pad Thai that will have you stuffed for days. Shrimp, chicken, tofu it's all amazing. My favorite pad Thai in the whole city. Order 420! Smoothies here are also awesome and you can even get them to go. Really fast pick up times too, under 15minutes
(5)Sarah F.
The clouds have parted... and there at the center, is a huge bowl of Pho. Absolutely delicious and enlightening (thus the first sentence) lunch experience at Pho Xe Lua today! I felt almost treacherous ditching my normal spot, Pho Cali, and wandered a little further away from work to this spot. What a good idea and I will absolutely be coming here again in the near future. I got regular rare steak pho. The meat and noodle portions were large just with a regular bowl portion. What really made this pho exceptional was the broth. So savory and had the right amount of scallions and cilantro. My PIC (partner in crime) got the beef stir fry noodles. Also amazing! But really I'm a Pho girl and this will be my new go to spot for it.
(5)Susanna L.
Yumyumyum. My place to come for pho when I'm in chinatown. Seated super quickly upon arrival and order taken quickly. Had the beef pho noodle dish. The portion size is huge, and comes super quick as well.
(4)Irina A.
Pretty simple atmosphere but the service is efficient, the food is delicious. Went for dinner n lunch, loved both meals! N it's so cheap!
(5)T M.
Cheap & good! I love this place!!!
(5)myrna D.
Amazing!!!!!!!!!!! Great price. Fast service!!! I order the tofu pho. It was perfect! They serve you hot tea. It's a hidden gem. Truly yummy Going back each time I'm in philly
(5)Vichet O.
I have to bump you back up to four stars, Choo Choo. It's criminal that I took a star away from you because I felt like you couldn't compete with my favorite Viet spot in Philly. Really, I shouldn't have been comparing you two in the first place. Because even though you have similar menus, you offer completely different things, and you are greater than the sum of your parts. Also, even though you're not quite as pretty, every time I try a new ramen joint in this town, I find myself thinking about how much I'd rather be with you. Stay cool, Choo Choo.
(4)Colleen M.
I am no Pho aficionado - in fact, this was only my 3rd experience with the soupy, noodley concoction... but I am fairly certain I will not find anything quite like this anywhere else. The broth - oh my. So amazing! The noodles - plentiful and delicious. The service was very, very good. No, it's not fancy. I don't go out to eat for fancy all the time. You can't beat a quality meal at an affordable price; and one where you don't have to make it yourself. Let's be honest. The quality of food is far more important than the ambiance. And, I would patronize this place even if I had to sit in a cardboard box to do it.
(5)Fan L.
South Philly has much better pho. We only stopped here because it's a bit more convenient but probably won't do that again. The pho was okay, nothing spectacular. The big problem was the bo kho - far too watery instead of being like a stew.
(2)Mike U.
As a 'Miamian,' there aren't places down by me that have EXCELLENT Pho as I've encountered in the area with a large Asian population. To me, the best we have in Miami it's mediocre when it comes to these in other parts of the nation, but its up to par for the satisfaction of my belly. Pho Xe Lua...You have met my expectations in satisfying my belly with your Big O' Bowl of hot soupy slurpy goodness. As you walk in...this place is waited by predominantly 'Chinese.' I know, because I speaky their lingo... ; ) But service is quick & efficient, hot tea is brought to you without any questions as you are sitting at the table. Once ready and your order is placed, it doesn't take them very long but about 5-10 minutes for the waiter to walk briskly to your table with this big white bowl of hot soup filled to the brim. The broth is where its at! This broth was steamy and tasty with all those hours that they spend brewing up a pot of this. The noodles were cooked to perfection, springy...just a tad past al dente. Enough where it is not soggy and breaking apart every time you attempt to grab them with your chopsticks. BTW...the regular large size is more that enough! Unless you are starving and can scarve down your hatch a HUGE-R (yes, I know that word doesn't exist, but there is no other way I would describe how big their sizes are) bowl of slurpy goodness...go right ahead. Pho here is cheap and plentiful. You really get your bang for your buck! ...Wish there were more places like this back home.
(4)Sarah K.
This is my regular pho place! I call it choo choo's for short (the neon sign train in their window). I love their pho and how affordable it is. Everything here is super cheap, and they don't sacrifice too much on the quality. Pho, thai green curry, pork chop over rice, pork chop vermicelli, raw beef appetizer (with peanuts, crunchy onions, lime, basil), summer rolls with peanut sauce are my faves. :) Highly recommend. Although I'm a huge fan of the price and the food, the service makes me a little uncomfortable. They are extremely fast and they do comply with all my requests - more limes please, meat on the side, etc. etc., but they are definitely not trying to make nice with all the customers.
(4)Cuong D.
This place is pretty good. I've tried the pho and bun bo hue here and have never been disappointed. This is my go to viet restaurant if I want something good and cheap.
(4)Carolyn L.
Maybe I've been spoiled by the abundance of great quality pho joints in Philadelphia, but I just thought the pho here was a bit lacking. The most essential component of my favorite rainy day elixer is the broth and it was just so bland. It had very little favor and I found myself added extra hot oil, sriracha, and lime in an effort to bring it to life with little success. We went on a Sunday evening, perhaps we got some watered down broth? Regardless, I feel that pho flavor should be fairly standardized in a restaurant. Consistency is key, right? While the broth was lacking, the meats were actually pretty flavorful and very tender. Another member of my party ordered one of the vermicelli dishes and it was also passable. Everything we ordered was OK. We finished our meals--nothing wow'ed us. There were some other dishes that came out of the back that looked pretty yummy. If I return, I'll probably try something other than the Pho.
(3)Dennis L.
Definitely a fan. Definitely Cheap. Definitely open pretty late (for philly). While Pho Ha is still my go to in terms of having parking and taste wise. This is a close second. It's kinda plain looking on an off street, but it's good. The brothe is tasty, the flank was a bit fattier than I liked, and the tripe was pretty tangled. Definitely good though. The brothe is what makes or breaks pho for me.
(4)Chau L.
Anyone out there like tendon in their pho? I do! This place offers a very generous portion of tendons with the pho, which is why they are my go-to spot in Chinatown for pho. Their avocado and taro smoothies are good here, too. They didn't get 5 stars bc the pork chop plate with broken rice is not the best I've had - the pork chop was a little on the greasy side and they overcooked my sunny side up egg, which is a big no-no. Also, the udon with ham hocks don't come with true Vietnamese Udon, which are translucent, but they use an opaque type, similar to ones used in Japanese/Korean food; the ham hocks had flavor, but they tasted like they had been frozen and had freezer burn/picked up weird smells from the other stuff in the freezer (does this make sense and gross anyone else out?). Ok, I said my piece. I go here often, despite finding the occasional dish that I don't like. They make tons of other things, and I'm sure I'll find lots of things I love here. Another perk is that they are open pretty late for a Vietnamese restaurant - till 11 some nights (Friday/Saturday).
(4)Colleen S.
My boyfriend and I have begun exploring Chinatown recently. Our friend had recommended that we try this place. They had no idea what it was called, but told us you can't miss the giant, neon train in the window and they were right! We had a really great meal here.They have a full bar and large portions. Their menu is huge and I was tempted to order my go-to of beef pho, but decided against it. I was a little disappointed when my rice noodle dish had fried noodles, but the flavor was great and I was glad to try something new! Will definitely go back to try the Pho sometime!
(3)Cynthia B.
I eat here ever since I was 12. The pho tastes much better back then. The portion was larger back then as well. Now, their broth is bland, looks like their meat is getting lower quality ones too. However it is still my to go place when I'm in Chinatown for a quick lunch. Their service is very fast too which is a good thing.
(3)Ann S.
Have been coming here for 8 years, high quality delicious food and affordable. I always bring friends from town in and have had two big birthday bashes here, drinks are cheap too!
(5)Daisy L.
the pho here is consistent and cheap. It is my go-to spot in philly, and the service is quick and efficient.
(4)Linda N.
Because my beloved Pho 75 closed, boyfriend and I settled for Pho Xe Lua around the corner. If you have read my previous review of Pho Xe Lua's disastrous and inedble Com Bi (rice with shredded pork) to-go, I was hesitant in coming back here. The place was PACKED, but we were sat almost immediately and took only a few minutes to take a look at what we wanted to order. Ended up ordering Pho Tai (large, $5.95) and him Pho Xe Lua (x-large, $6.95) and they came out within minutes. The first few bites were okay, but the noodles were stuck together and the beef was blah. The broth, in particular, didn't really meet our expectations either - maybe it's because we've been spoiled by Pho 75. His x-large pho was ginormous, by the way. You can probably feed like two or three people with just that bowl alone. I guess they really mean 'xe lua' (train) when you order the x-large. We might possibly try the Bo Tai Chanh (Vietnamese beef carpaccio) at Pho Xe Lua next time... since a table close to us ordered it and it looked absolutely DELICIOUS. My mouth is watering right now thinking about it! So the three stars is solely based on the pho. It was just eh. The Pho Xe Lua experience itself wasn't terrible, don't get me wrong. We'll give it another try soon.
(3)Michael F.
Pho in Chinatown... and some of the best Pho I've had to boot! I could describe the service, the atmosphere, and everything other than the food, but really why bother? You're here to eat! Get some Pho Tai, spice it to your liking, and dig in. While they were a bit light on the tripe, the beef was cooked (or should I say uncooked) to perfection. A regular bowl (they call them L versus XL) should be able to take care of you well until your next scheduled meal. Try to beat the lunch crowd since it gets packed.
(5)C C.
Love this place, great food and cheap price. Service was always fast, it is the best place for pho in the Chinatown area. Great smoothies as well!
(5)D L.
Choo choos is the place to be for some good Viet around. It has big portions, variety and does not break the bank. they accept cc which is also a plus. overall everything from pho, bun, and rice dishes are on point.
(4)T N.
My favorite family restaurant to eat at! Pretty delicious food wise but place gets packed fast! They have one of the best snails made here! Definitely try it out!
(4)Peter K.
I was craving pho after returning to Philadelphia from Orange County, CA (home of the largest Vietnamese population in America), and what a letdown Pho Xe Lua was. I ordered the pho tai, and was sorely disappointed. The "steak" meat was made of some sort of weird, processed, flat steak-like product that completely lacked flavor, and a greasy, flavorless sausage was also included. The broth was ok and the noodles were just fine. I definitely won't be returning.
(2)T D.
Best Pho and Shrimp Pad Thai in Chinatown. My wife and I try to eat here about once a week and we are constantly recommending it to friends.
(5)Rachel S.
I've only gotten take out but the food and prices are great. Love to bun bo heu, way more pork knuckles than some places give you.
(5)MC M.
I've been to Choo Choo a couple times since my initial review. Okay, look, the food is slightly above average, but you can go with a vegan, a gluten-intolerant person, a gluten-intolerant vegan and voracious carnivores and find something satisfying. The portions are huge, too. Service is what you'd expect, and it can be a little crowded, but it's a solid solution to an intersection of food allergies and ethical choices.
(4)Jesse Z.
I had vegetable spring rolls as an appetizer, and also pan friend noodles with shrimp and vegetables. Presentation of the noodle dish was great--it looked like a giant bird's nest made out of crunchy noodles, with the shrimp and vegetables in the middle. The amount of shrimp was generous, which was nice. However, it was too saucy for my liking. As soon as I dug in, the sauce spread to the crunchy noodles, instantly rendering them soggy. The vegetable spring rolls were awesome, especially with the sweet & spicy dipping sauce. Chopstick-licking good :) I think I will give this restaurant another try, but will likely order something else, like pho or rice soup next time.
(3)Mei L.
Snails. Lobster. SOFT SHELL CRAB!!! What more can you ask for? Perhaps decent Pho at a Vietnamese restaurant. Does Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant deliver? the answer would be...a resounding YES! YES! YES! The broth tastes as it should...FLAVORFUL!!! The portions are huge. The large was more than I could handle. Order #101 if it is your first time eating Pho. The waiters are great as well. Your water cup will never run dry. Very attentive staff. Come try this joint if it's your first time trying Vietnamese food or if you are a tried and true Pho fan. Either way, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Courtney B.
I always enjoy the food here and the service! Just an FYI this is a place where you are sitting very close to your neighboring tables. I can never remember the names of my entrees but I can recommend the spring rolls and thai iced tea. One weird minus is the location of the bathroom (basically in the kitchen/waiter area).
(4)Zake S.
Killer. Love the mango shake of course. Everything is tasty and the wait-staff take good care of you.
(5)Johan W.
This place didn't do it for us. High ratings but both the pho or curry didn't have much flavor.
(2)Sovanny B.
Pretty good everything. I come here when I want cheap Asian foods.
(4)Denise W.
$7 for the extra large bowl of pho and when they say extra large, they really mean EXTRA LARGE! The bowl was so humongous that even the two elderly Chinese guys sitting next to us made comments to each other about how big the it was (that's what she said). It's very reassuring when your hot food greets you with a face full of steam. I took a quick sip of the soup and discovered that it was very weak for a pho broth. It tasted more like a light broth you would typically use for chicken or seafood soups. I added my standard pho condiments: basil leaves, bean sprouts, lime juice, and extra jalapenos to make up for the weak broth. Obviously, Sriracha and hoisin sauce were added too. There were a lot of delicious cuts of meat, considering the price of the meal. Very generous with the beef tendons and brisket. It took what seemed like forever to make even a small impact on the bowl of soup. I was there for the long run to finish this beast! Thankfully, there was enough meat, Sriracha sauce, and hoisin sauce to balance out the bland flavour of the rice noodles. I managed to finish most of the meat and noodles, leaving mostly broth in my bowl. Service was average: it took a while to get a menu and a take-out container when we were finished. They did refill our waters regularly though. Generally with Asian restaurants, you don't go for the service, you go for the cheap eats!
(3)Angie K.
Cheap, quick, delicious. Nothing spectacular, but solidly decent all around. GET THE RAW BEEF DISH! raw beef+lime juice+peanuts+fish sauce = :)))) Pho, vermicelli bowls (bun) are safe. Was not a fan of the chicken curry, though.
(4)Matt P.
My favorite pho place, $6.25 for big bowl of noodles and cow parts.
(5)David C.
Honestly, this place blows every other Pho restaurant I've ever been to out of the water. To go anywhere else is a mistake. It's hard to believe that I could ever be unable to finish a bowl of pho, but the XL bowl is so big and portions of meat so generous that I have yet to polish off an entire serving. Not much else to say. Randomly, they are closed on Wednesdays. If you want pho on a wednesday, you should save your appetite for Thursday - don't go somewhere else.
(5)Brian D.
I'm not a Pho expert. I do know that they make it better than I would. I usually grab the Veg Pho and I think that it is suitable. For 5 bucks a ton of broth, noodles, lime, basil, sprouts, mixed green veggies etc. I dislike the chewey rubbery tofu strips so I don't put them in my soup. Tiny dirty place, but it's Philly Chinatown no surprises there. I said 5 bucks.
(3)Nate T.
Went there 30 minutes before closing. Had a great pho tai nam that came out in a few minutes. Inexpensive and delicious. I'll be back.
(5)Danny K.
The food here is awesome My family like to come here lot Great food Vietnamese and Thai foods.
(5)Jung K.
My favorite pho place! I've been coming here for Pho and Vietnamese dishes for 10+ years - consistent throughout! Cheap beers/drinks, and casual. Also much closer than 11th and Washington and the prices are also very cheap. The service isn't stellar, but that's not it's known for. Would highly recommend the clams in black bean sauce, fried spring rolls, and of course - the Pho. Must try for first-timers!
(5)Brooke S.
Good soup, good price, nothing fancy. My go-to spot for Pho.
(4)Joseph S.
Pho @ Xe Lua is great! I'd recommend it highly. The portions are very large, the prices cheap, and the quantity of meat is very generous. I believe it was $6 for a large bowl and $7 for an extra large. The brisket here tastes amazing and it is cut into large pieces. And lastly, if you end up ordering the shrimp spring roll appetizer, here's a tip. Mix in a fair amount of sriracha into the peanut sauce before eating! It can be a little packed there, but service is so quick, they always find room to accommodate you (there is extra seating upstairs). The only real downside would be parking. It can be hard to find street parking, but the place gives a discount if you park @ one of the garages. Just show your ticket to the owner of the restaurant and he'll stamp or mark it.
(5)Kerry A.
Hadn't been here in awhile and happened to be at a meeting in town and ventured in for lunch. I have never had a bad meal here. I love trying different soups (they have an extensive menu). Wanted spicy, so went with the Bun Bo Hue. Fantastic, though you have to be forewarned: gets its great flavor from trotters ... yup, that would be pigs feet ! The pieces of fatty brisket are yummy and abundant ! And it packs a kick. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because I'm comparing it to a number of other favorite Viet places and it doesn't quite surpass some of the others that I rate a 5. Service is very quick and the prices are fantastic ! Great Thai Iced Tea and Cafe Su Da !
(4)Olesya P.
After reading reviews, I decided to come here with my boyfriend. It was such a disappointment. I ordered pot fried frog and my boyfriend filet mignon. Place looks so nasty, dirty. Service was bad also. The price is too much for the things you get. We waited really long, and when we got food, it looked ok, but tasted horrible. Frog was full of fat and some weird spices. My boyfriend thought that it was not enough food at all. It was enough for me. NO WAY I AM COMING BACK THERE. Also, there a lot of weird people, some dirty workers, I was scared that my purse will be stolen.
(2)Kathryn L.
LOVE. Best menu options are summer rolls, pad thai, curry chicken, and, of course, the pho. My tummy normally can't handle all the sauce and MSG of Chinese restaurants, but the pad thai and curry chicken suit me just fine. Have been going here for years, and it will forever be a favorite.
(5)James K.
I really enjoy coming here because the price is really cheap. I am in love with their BBQ pork chops because it is so damn good. I literally ordered the BBQ pork chops the last 4/5 times I came here. I highly recommend it! The other time I ordered a steak pho which was surprisingly good. The broth was flavorful and delicious. I would also recommend the summer rolls with the peanut sauce for an appetizer if you're ever with someone because it comes out quick and it's easy to share. The service here is really quick and it can get a bit packed in here, but they also have a upstairs dining area if there's not enough seating downstairs. The waiters are usually friendly and just take our orders, they don't make much small talk.
(4)Jessica H.
my FAVORITE pho in all of philly HUGE portions for really cheap!! fried rice is also huge, and really delicious. bubble tea is really good too..try the lychee!
(5)Joanna T.
The pho alone is definitely five star worthy. But the rest of the menu is mediocre, nothing you couldn't find elsewhere (and of better quality) but the pho is rely one of the best in the city. And it's super cheap!
(4)Jennifer M.
The place I go for pho in Chinatown! Named the Choo Choo or the train, this is where we go. All the time. Big bowls of delicious broth, lots of noodles and meat. Number 106 for me! It's always crowded but servers (different ones taking your order, giving you water, clearing plates, and giving you the bill) do their best to make sure you get what need! Don't think we've ever waited any more than 5 minutes to get a table. Nice!
(4)Will C.
#204 Choo Choo serves up a cheap, mean bowl of pho. For $6, you too can also have a big bowl of pho with the tastiest, processed beef balls in all of Chinatown. The broth is really flavorful, not greasy, and the noodles were al-dente. As with any cuisine, order something you know you'll love. For me, that does not involve tripe, tendon, or squid. I did not detect any MSG. For real, this bowl of pho just pisses over all the pho I've had in DC. This bowl of pho with lotsa balls has made me a believer. Bar downstairs. More tables upstairs for big groups or private gatherings. Quick service. However, our waiter kinda got mixed up with our party's massive order. They do accept credit cards, but I believe it's a $15 minimum.
(4)Elizabeth P.
This place draws a crowd, but that doesn't keep them from offering speedy service. Think their noodle soups are tasty -- broth is flavorful and I like how their noodles are... chewy (for a lack of better word). Like most restaurants in Chinatown, food is cheap and the portions are big. Good place to go to if you're craving pho. Also, if you're looking for good hangover food, I'd seek this place out.
(4)Margo K.
Thank you Philadelphia for making me well-versed enough in pho to speak on the greatness of this establishment. Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai is my new favorite place to get pho. A friend of a friend swears by this place, so after trying many others, I tried to come here a couple weeks ago, but it was too packed to get a table. I returned a bit after 5 on a Friday, and had no trouble getting a table for two. First of all, Pho Xe Lua has the best dining atmosphere - over all other places to get pho in Philadelphia. Their menu is bigger than a lot of the other spots as well. You can also order alcoholic beverages or a bubble tea to suit your tastes. Service is super quick and pretty friendly. The pho...great meat quality, tasty noodles, cheap, and decent size. Perfect. This spot deserves to be my default pho restaurant!
(4)Nico L.
This place is worth to walk up to 30 minutes for. The prices are ridiculously cheap. I can get a full meal under $10 and that includes a beer. The pho, hand drawn. From my understanding, it is the only place in Philly that hand draws all of their own noodles. Every thing is quick and ready to go in. And the portions are massive! No place else I'd go for pho.
(5)Matthew L.
Cheap. Fast. Filling. No real complaints. 4 stars! This is my preferred pho location in Chinatown. Bowls are $6-$7 and are quite filling. They also have some nice beef carpaccio, and some sugarcane, minced shrimp, BBQ chicken noodle combos which are really enjoyable. Prices are par for Chinatown. Certainly not a particularly attractive place to eat but seems clean enough. Service is fairly quick and food is delivered from the kitchen within 10 minutes of ordering. I think they are closed on Tuesdays? Pho! Nomnomnom. Cheers.
(4)Deann M.
I finally pried myself away from Pho Cali long enough to try another Vietnamese place in the area, recommended by several of my friends. This place was cheaper and had bigger portions, however the pork chop I had was thinner and more fatty than Pho Cali. The Vietnamese Iced Coffee is brewed fresh on the table, that is pretty neato. I still have yet to try the pho... there was a triple-digit heat index today but it seemed every other table was still eating the pho! How can you guys eat soup on a day like this?? I will definitely return to this place, the food was delicious and the service was fast. There was a team of waiters who attentively took plates away and refilled water.
(4)Erin H.
Best pho in Philadelphia! I'll admit I'm a little gunshy when eating in Chinatown but this place is delicious! Broth is tasty, not too salty, always piping hot and comes out super fast. The spring rolls are great too. Plus you can't beat the price. Only reason for giving a 4 is ambiance. Very cramped and in definite need of a renovation
(4)Keang H.
This place is quantity over quality. The portion size at this place is unbelievable and the prices are so low they don't seem to correspond. When I go here, I'm thinking I want a small soup to start with. For less than $4, I order what I think will be an appetizer sized soup, but instead I am served a gigantic bowl of meat, broth and veggies. . .not that I'm complaining. The menu is very diverse and has things that I have never seen before, but they seem to have a way of cooking things differently here. I've tried their common Asian dishes and the flavor is just. . . .different. It is not necessarily bad, but not necessarily good either. The best thing on the menu is the seafood noodle soup. When I go to a restaurant, I usually like to order something different every time, but the first time I had the seafood noodle soup, I couldn't stop thinking about it. It has resulted in me ordering it at almost every subsequent visit. This probably has something to do with my soup obsession. The broth is unbelievably flavorful, topped with a combination of seafood and then finished with the traditional condiments of lime, mints, culantro, etc. Something about this dish makes it so much better than any other seafood noodle soup I've ever had. Despite the inconsistent quality, I have a way of returning to not so good places because they lure me in with their quantity size. I plan on going back again and again, but I probably won't like it, unless I'm there for the seafood noodle soup.
(3)Patrick M.
Without a doubt the best Pho Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Noodle) in Chinatown Philadelphia...could be argued as the best in the city. Their Sinh to Bo (Avocado Shake) is borderline heavenly and it is the ultimate compliment to a wonderful traditional Vietnamese lunch/dinner. We have tried many of their Pho options and the overall experience, friendliness of the staff, and price friendly menu keeps us as repeat customers. My girlfriend is pleased with their veggie friendly options. Highly recommended!
(5)Yucong W.
Very good broth!
(4)Xu L.
Pho Xe Lua is a great place if you want something good and cheap and fast at the same time. Def one of the best in Chinatown. Always try new things, especially the appetizers. You will be surprised. Pho (noodle soup) and broken rice platters are their known dishes. But don't forget to try their Rainbow Ice on their drinks menu. Just such a nice presentation and taste. The restaurant has not been remodeled for a while. But for the price of the food, I won't complain!
(5)Karen Y.
vermacelli with bbq beef and bbq shrimp was decent, though a bit on the plain side for me. fine for me since i was sharing with my son who is not a fan of spicy food. however, the portions are tiny compared to what i am used to getting in so cal. the fried egg rolls were tasty (at least from what i could tell from my 2-year old who devoured it on the spot- crunchy wrapper first). service was sweet and attentive, but i don't think i would come running back the next time i had a craving for vietnamese.
(3)Isabelle J.
I've been to a plethora of pho places, eaten many bowls of delicious pho, and I've found many that I like and would go back over to eat over again. But... this was not one of those places. As always when I first go to a pho restaurant, I get the special pho. At this place, I didn't find the broth to be very savory, and I am allllll about the broth. I found myself needing to add a lot of sriracha to make it taste a little bit saltier and sweeter. I also usually love the tendon and the tripe in the soup, but they didn't give me very much of that--it was just a lot of noodles... a little bit too much noodles and not much of real gems! Overall, I just found the pho to be eh, one-dimensional.
(2)Jerry M.
Good food for a basic menu. Lots. Could have shared mine with someone. Service adequate and fast. Clean. I'd come back. Easy to find. It's the first restaurant on Race in Chinatown.
(4)Kate N.
Yelp has failed me this time. I went to philly to get some authentic Vietnamese food. NOT chinese vietnamese food, that I can get anywhere in NYC. Everything was just mediocre. I only spent a day there, and am very diappointed that I chose this for my dinner.
(2)Monica S.
My friends and I came here for tonight's dinner and started off with the obvious must haves: a Mexican Margarita and a Singapore Sling. They served us the Margarita with two Sapporo's instead. My friend asked about the Sling and the waiter simply shook his head "no..." Puzzled, we began to feast on our 19 appetizers: garlic shrimp, Chinese greens, Vietnamese sausage, summer rolls, Papaya steak salad washed down with a steaming bowl of delicious pho. As we slurped the last bit down, and patted our bellies good night, the Sling arrived. It tasted like someone had liquefied orange Starburts and blended them in a boot. But what can you expect from a cocktail menu where all drinks are $4 and club soba is listed in the beer section?
(3)Joe L.
My first trip in. I had the Vietnamese version of Carpaccio (sliced then beef raw cured with lime juice) that was Fantastic. Also had a whole live crab cooked in a very interesting way. This was messy and cumbersome to eat but had a delicious flavour. Great service. If your server doesn't speak or understand English very well, there is always a someone helpful near.
(4)Debbie G.
This place meets all my criteria for a place I will come back to again and again: Has an eclectic menu - always something new to try (i.e. snails or sugarcane shrimp, yum!) Serves alcamahol - (unlike some of the other pho places near by) Would definitely categorize it as a 'cheap eats' - for under 30 bucks my husband and I stuffed ourselves plenty AND had 2 rounds of drinks! Fast and efficient service - never had to sit and wonder when i would be getting my food even when it's been pretty crowded there THE best PHO in town! Love love. love this place - if you are a viet food lover, don't miss out! (oh yeah, and they serve thai dishes as well)
(5)Michael W.
With a nice weekend trip to Philly, I was honestly craving for some Pho. While strolling down through Chintown, Pho Xe Lua peaked my interest. Being originally from California, I've definitely had some pho during my time so I'm coming in here with some expectations. Just walking in and doing a quick glance through, this place definitely looked like a legit pho restaurant. From the plastic utensils, the cheap tables, and authentic smell, these were green flags, and I was ready to go! Now the prices here are pretty legit too. $5.95 for a regular bowl, and $6.95 for a truly large bowl. I mean, that bowl is gigantic, so if you're really really hungry, then opt for the large. I went ahead and ordered the usual #1 combination bowl of pho with all your typical fixings like tripe, brisket, tendon, etc. Now when my pho came and I took a sip of the broth, I was sadly underwhelmed. The broth was decent, but it didn't have a blast of flavor that I was expecting. To be honest, it was even a little on the bland side. To compound that, it was a little lukewarm, which isn't always the best with soup. As far as the toppings are concerned, they were all there, but there was like 1-2 pieces of each ingredient. I kind of expected there to be more meat, but I guess that comes with the large bowl? The noodles were spot on though. Nice and chewy and cooked to perfection. But even so, that's not enough to save the total package. Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai, your name is so legit for a pho restaurant, but the pho is actually a little underwhelming. Perhaps you had an off day, or perhaps you just really like serving underwhelming pho. At least your prices are legit enough that I can't stay mad at you forever.
(3)Sherry T.
One of my favorite spots to get pho when in Chinatown. It's inexpensive and quick service.
(4)Carol C.
BEST pho in Chinatown! The broth is one of the better broths i've ever had! AND the extra large bowl is EXTRA FREAKING LARGE. Also, they have so many servers standing around, you are bound to get as much attention as you ask for. I asked for extra lemons and I almost had three servers walk away to get some.
(5)Sachit B.
This is a typicaI china town restaurant and we cant expect good ambience. Always crowded. I usually give points mainly for quality and taste of food. The broth was very flavorful and the meat very tender and fresh. We love their fruit juices and bubble teas.
(5)Pete S.
Arguably the best Pho restaurant in Philadelphia's Chinatown; the Pho in Chinatown isn't great to begin with. Washington Ave is a drive away if you're looking for something slightly better. The place itself was like any standard Pho restaurant; cheap tables, small cramped spaces, etc. I ordered a large bowl which was two dollars extra from the regular bowl at ~$6. Food came out quickly and the servers provided refills of tea and water quickly. Overall, service was pretty good. They also listened to our request of steaming up the bean sprouts. For the Pho itself, it was average across the board. I needed to put a good amount of "extra" ingredients to get it where I wanted. For the price and the service I couldn't complain though. I'd gladly go back again, but it may not hit the spot for some of you Pho aficionados.
(3)Melissa W.
This place is pretty good. I'd give it 3.5 stars. The filet mignon in lemongrass sauce (~$13) is SUPER tasty (the extra half a star is for this dish alone) and comes cooked with bell peppers, onions, and other such vegetables so it at least feels a little healthy. The pork chop over rice was standard. Kind of plain and a bit gristly, but portions were large. The pho looked fine. Prices are decent and they give you a lot of food. Not a bad option if you're starving, don't want to spend a ton of money, and happen to be in the area.
(3)Phynix N.
I've been going to this place since I was a child and I still love going here to eat all the time! If anyone says "Let's going to choo choo's!" you know that you're going to have awesome food for awesome prices! I always go for the seafood noodle soup and so much more! :)
(4)S L.
I just had a very satisfying dinner here for under $10! They offer two sizes of pho (large and extra-large). I went with the Pho with Beef and Tendon in the smaller size, and it was huge! There was plenty of soup, noodles and meat. In my bowl, I had over 10 slices of beef and several large chunks of tendon. I also got the Avocado Smoothie. O-M-G. SO GOOD. Super creamy, sweet and seriously amazing. At $3, it was an absolute steal. It reminded me of the avocado smoothies I used to get in boba shops in California (for no less than $5). Food came out within 5 minutes of ordering.
(5)Erin B.
I often get depressed on Wednesdays when I realize that the Train is closed and I'm craving one of their dishes. There are just so many amazing things to order, that aren't even necessarily on the menu. When "off-road" ordering at the Train, I go for the Sate (sp?) clams or the Clam Pho in spicy broth. (Clearly I have a thing for clams). This is also a great place to host a large family style dinner for a number of guests - in the past we've ordered the stuffed tofu, ginger/scallion lobster and crab. Non-chinatowners are always very impressed by that selection. They also make amazing shakes - and when dining in, just one ask from the waiter and you can turn your normally healthy and delicious strawberry shake into an even more delicious strawberry daquiri w/ a shot of rum! Oh favorite Chinatown restaurant - what would I do w/o thee?
(5)Ting N.
First time here. I ordered Pho and a dish. PROS: -Fast. Fast. Fast. I ordered it and the wait time was less than 5 minutes. The place was not crowded, but there were around 6 tables that were eating and around 3 waiting on food. -The food was great, and for a very good price. It filled me up so quick that I was dumbfounded. CONS: -None OVERALL: The outside may look a bit "shady" but the food inside is wonderful!
(5)Amy L.
The service is fast. The prices are cheap. A typical Vietnamese restaurant in Philly. Parking is hard in the area since Chinatown parking is hard.
(3)John L.
If anyone ever touches my Choo Choo, I will rage like the star wars kid on you! The only complaint, and its the ONLY one is that this place isn't open 24/7. Because if it was, I'd bring my toothbrush, blanket, and set up upstairs... Away from the customers... OBVIOUSLY! I go there all the time with my wife, and each time is better than the next. Their Pho is basically a mini swimming pool, if a swimming pool was a hot steaming cauldron of fatty marrow, sublime chicken broth, and accompanied by your standard Pho fare. But what makes this place stand out to me is the variety of other good food that is on the menu, so let me start on those. First, there is coconut snails. O sweet lord, that is ultimate beer drinking food. You get that with some 333 or Tiger beer? O man every time I'm there it reminds me of my youth. Not that I drink when I was young... at all... ever. Then there is the Papaya salad, holy crap that is just the best when accompanied with the beer. This is a place that defines happiness, from the families that sits around and talks about their day. To the older couple with their grandchildren enjoying each other at the round table. To the cute high school or college couple who are awkwardly trying to feel each other out on the first date. To the couple like myself and my wife who are just getting drunk in the corner, well ok I'm getting drunk and my wife is getting high off the food. This place is the best place for everything Vietnamese.
(5)Zack G.
This is my favorite Pho place in Philly right now. The Pho is good, doesn't really WOW me but the drink menu! oh the drink menu!. the drinks are categorized by liqueur. Up and down for each the price is the same. So their top shelf scotch is the same as their rail scotch. You just can't get that anywhere else. Also get started with a spring role, those are great and super refreshing, especially with the peanut sauce.
(5)LaDonna M.
Went here after a day in the city with my boyfriend. We both ordered pho of course and absolutely loved it. The food came out very quickly and hot. The bean sprouts and other assorted pho additives were very fresh, which isn't always the case in restaurants.
(4)Joanne A.
Huge portions!!! The XL bowl is only $6.50-ish, so filling and hearty, and they are generous with the sliced meat. They also give lots of lime slices, basil, and bean sprouts. Broth is delicious as usual. I love that it's in the heart of chitown and I can walk right over for bubble tea afterwards (only if I get the large sized bowl will I have space for bbtea) Only cons: unfortunately, the meat was a little thicker cut than I like it to be and the spring rolls I had last time tasted like they had been sitting out for a while.
(4)Kelly C.
we're all aware of the pho from this place. but the other night, i wanted rice, so i ordered the curry chicken rice platter. it was surprisingly delicious! it came out fast, which was good b/c i was REALLY hungry. AND the curry was creamy with the sweet taste of coconut! simply perfect. the best part was? It was only $5.50!!! seriously cannot beat that. One of the best comfort meal i've found recently. I will be back, not for pho, but for some rice and curry :)
(4)Abelle N.
I haven't had pho in years!!! Omg this place is awesome!!! Love the atmosphere... They seated me all the way in the back which I didn't like cause its like right by the kitchen but whatever at least the food was on point... I order two apps... papaya salad and crispy veggies spring rolls ...the papaya salad they didn't give me enough sauce so it was a little dry other then that it was fine...the crispy egg rolls was yummy ...two entrees... Which were pho Mac and pork chop over rice...the pho mac i order had three types of beef loaded with veggies.... I order the medium but it looked like a large bowl of pho gosh ...i wonder how big the large pho would be after seeing my pho ...yums! This place makes the best pho!! I defiantly would come back for that if i didn't live so far...The pork chop over rice was pretty good but the portion of the meat was pretty small they put imitation crab meat with eggs on the side which is kinda weird but whatever lol ...all that food cost around 15 bucks!! I think that was pretty awesome with all the food I order came out to 15 bucks!
(5)Calvius W.
This place can be hard to find but well worth the china town trip. I come here when I am sick and need a hot bowl of pho to the face. My favorite is the seafood tom yum soup. Its loaded with jumbo shrimp, mussels, fish patties, and imitation crab. First I load it up with all the fresh herbs and bean sprouts they provide you. I then put two spoons of spicy red sauce. Finally I try to eat it as hot in temperature as I can stand and like magic my sinuses and nasal passages are completely cleared. I have also tried the shrimp roll appetizer, chicken vermicelli with shrimp stick, and the classic beef pho. All of which are excellent. The time from when you place your order until your meal is ready is fast (usually within 10 minutes). The service is ok considering that only two staff members speak broken English. The rest can speak a few words. I always have to ask for extra napkins and this can be a challenge sometimes. They also have a cheap full bar menu if you want to get your drink on. Best of all are the prices and serving sizes. For 6 bucks you can have enough food to feel completely satisfied and have enough to bring home for another meal. What prevents this place from a 5 star review is some cleanliness issues (like the bathroom), the cramped feel, and the fluorescent lighting inside can be unpleasant. Overall definitely give it a try, especially during the winter or if your nasal passages are stuffed.
(4)Lisa M.
Exploring Chinatown and no clue where to eat with the only requirement from my bf was "Vietnamese food". Yelp came to the rescue which is how we discovered and tried Pho "choo choo" Xe Lua Viet Thai. The menu was huge, almost to the point where we were overwhelmed and had no idea where to start. I got a mango milkshake with a rice dish with lemongrass chicken and spring roll. (#219) is all I remember. My bf got a regular size bowl of Pho with beef in it. Which was HUGE. My bf's brother got a seafood dish that he said tasted like a bait shop. So I guess it was really seafoody. Food was extremely filling and relatively inexpensive. It was an experience but I don't think its a place that I would die to go back too.
(3)Diana K.
Just learned that this place has a name other than "Choo Choo" as I have always lovingly known it. This restaurant has replaced Pho 75 (R.I.P.) as my neighborhood Pho joint. They also are great for vermicilli dishes, which are my favorite Vietnamese food! It has a hole-in-the-wall vibe, but service is quick, prices are low, and you will always leave happy and full. :)
(4)SC V.
Excellent food! Definitely my new place for when I have an unnameable craving. The Raw Flank Steak with lime is my new perfect food. Although the ambiance is that of a mobile home, it could do well to change the lighting, the ugly linoleum floor and perhaps go with a moody earth tone throughout.
(4)Adrienne C.
Good egg rolls, liked the shrimp cracker egg/rice noodle combo, but thought the broth was just ok. Huge portions, but Nam Phuong is still my go-to for pho.
(3)Kemi A.
OMG do I NOT like vietnamese food? I don't know. I think I ordered some interesting things. I went with a friend who is veggie and I was disappointed that they didn't have much veggie options for her. No appetizers. They have a small section in the back of the menu. The waitstaff recommend she get the only soup that was veggie and when it arrived (in a LARGE bowl) it looked soo tasteless and it indeed was not tasteful. I did appreciate their large portions tho. She got an entree that was much tastier tho. I got the shrimp (cold) spring roll appetizer. I enjoyed the peanut sauce but I must admit I lost interest in the shrimp roll when I spied the shit?/vein? of the shrimp all wrapped in the wrap and visable thru the thin skin of the roll wrapper. I mean I know shrimps have veins in them but shouldn't that be cleaned out? and should you try to NOT have it show (if u don't take the time to devein it?) I didn't eat the second roll because I was just like ECK..I don't know what I'm eating. I ordered vermicelli with like a mixture of stuff. But seriously after that shrimp spring roll event, I was kinda skeptical of everything after that. I felt I was eating "mystery meat" and i was not comfy. I don't think i would come back to order again. I'll just go to the burmese place up the block.
(3)Peng X.
Great pho and pad thai. I have tried many asian restaurants but Pho Xe Lua is the one I coming back to. The service is great as they always have an entire staff of waiters working around all hours. The food is very inexpensive, comes in huge portions, and is as good as them come. Highly recommended!
(5)Nicole W.
I'll keep it simple. If you haven't been here yet: You Are Ca-razy! This place is awesome. I would give it 5 stars if the service wasn't so hit or miss, but I love love love all the food I've had here. From the Pho to the Vermicelli to the bangin ass rice dishes. You just can't go wrong with pretty much any dish here. My favorites: 1. Vegatable Spring Rolls 2.Pho Tai, Nam Gan 3. Bun Bo Nuong 4. Com Suon, Bi, Cha Chung Be a fatty and get them all. It's just that awesome. That ish cray!
(4)Stefanie A.
When in Chinatown do not pass by the "choo choo" restaurant that is named something I can never remember. Why? The menu is vast, including excellent pho, noodle dishes, and apps, the food is inexpensive, it's real and it's spectacular. Other pluses: Service is quick, it's byo, and you never have to wait too long. Their shredded chicken soup is my stand by when sick... Or well. Enjoy!
(5)K. A. N. A. K.
I would consider this place to be perfectly lunch-casual, but my boyfriend contemplates eating here anytime, everyday. The waiters was attentive and the service was fast. I got chicken pho; the chicken was so tender (despite the hot broth) and the noodles were superior in texture. The banh cuon is listed as an appetizer, but there is enough to be a meal. Go here often.
(5)Saeed A.
I am giving them 3 stars, as I have been to few better places for Thai food in nyc and even in philly . These folks are average !
(3)Anonymous P.
This place is good and you can feed 4 people for $40. Many variations of pho soup and bubble tea. I enjoy this quaint local eatery on a very cold day.
(5)Amy H.
This recently has been my go to place got pho in Chinatown Philly. I esp like their Spring Roll and the viet coffee is an absolute to die for. Their service is ok. The price is very fair, the only thing I suggest is that you stay with their large and not go xtra large since it's only really increase in broth so save yourself so extra dollar. All in all, I still always hit Chew Chew (most people in the area know this place as Chew Chew) whenever I'm on pho mood. I encourage you to try this place when you are on pho mood!can't beat the price!
(4)Meredith B.
This is my "legit" spot in chinatown. This is my spot I head to when I'm with someone that is down for a quality authentic time. The hidden gem of the menu is 512 Bo Tai Chanh - raw fresh flank steak with lime juice. Think carpaccio.
(4)Andrew L.
friendly waiters...awesome food....5-10min for food. basically it's the best hot pho in chinatown
(5)Anny Y.
Every Vietnamese restaurant we venture to, the true test will be the beef cubes entree. Once we must try the beef cube, it will determine the type of establishment we are dealing with. We will rate the taste, texture, beef quality and how chewy it is. I must say, it was OKAY, maybe 6.5 out of 10. Not the best I had before. Vietnamese restaurant is known for the pho - vermicelli noodle soup. It is a must have because you cannot go wrong with it. The broth was hot enough for the raw bean sprout to cook and added mint flavor will help. Unbelievably, Philadelphia chinatown is quite popular out of the New York City venues. I will go back again to try the karaoke, and hot pots that I saw when I passed by.
(3)Lilli M.
Stellar (meaning very low) prices, generous portion sizes, and speedy service. Oh, plus $2 Thai iced tea! I got vermicelli with BBQ pork and meat on a sugar cane stick and pork balls, I think, for $6.95. And that's if you get the "upgrade" from the standard $5.95 vermicelli, which already seems to have a lot of goodies included. The pho is $5.95 (large) or $6.95 (x-large) - guess there's no size small for the pho. There's additional seating upstairs. This place was packed when we came on a Saturday night, though it was past standard dinner hour. I would definitely come back in the future for a generous-sized meal you can get for well under $10.
(4)Lianna N.
Last night I went to Pho Xe Lua for dinner because the bf was craving some chao long (or rice porridge with meat and innards)- a dish that has been hard to find in Philly since moving here all those years ago. I could make it myself, but then we would be stuck with a whole pot...and sometimes you just need a bowl to be satisfied. I was wary of the "fusion" aspect of the restaurant because I typically dislike asian places that try to do multiple cuisine. A lot of the time it ends up half@$$ for both or (shudder) all three types that they try to encompass. The restaurant was lively, and there were a lot of diners having dinner- good sign. We ordered eggrolls, they came out steaming hot and delicious, also another good sign. I ordered the the grilled pork rice platter (com suong nuong), which is a fairly typical order for me and I have tried it at many of the different vietnamese places around philly. Much to my dismay, the rice was mushy, the pork floss was bland, and the pork cut that I got was fatty and also lacking flavor. The chao long had all the essential ingredients, but also bland. When you make rice porridge, there are lots of different types (chicken, fish, etc) but when you make that type you cook the meat in the rice porridge. In this restaurant'scase, bc they had multiple types and prob to make it easier for themselves, my guess is that they made a plain porridge pot (no flavor) and add in the meat of the type you order. Overall, neither of us were pleased with our meal choice. I dont think I will be back here anytime soon.
(2)Alyssa R.
Not going to lie, when I walked into this restaurant for the first time I was like where am I? But it is sooo good! I have converted all my friends to going here. First off, the menu is extensive. They pretty much have anything you can think of. And everything I have ever had is amazing. And it is sooo reasonable! I always get the shrimp pad thai, i think it is around 10 or so dollars. It is sooo big, it is enough for two people for sure. Also they have really cheap drinks. Like $4 wines. I love to come here before going out, or for just a random night in china town. There really is no ambiance, but with food this good and this cheap it doesnt matter!
(5)Elizabeth D.
Their pho, rice platters and spring rolls are very good. Their staff is friendly. Give this place a try if your in the area.
(5)Martin W.
Well doing the Race Street crawl as I spy-ed my phone as to the place with the most amount of stars this place was it. Really did not disappoint and the place was really not busy on a Friday afternoon. Had the Spring Rolls which were cut in pieces and covered in chopped peanuts. Overall not bad could have used more lettuce and they only serve 3, at most other places they come in four pieces. The Pho was quite yummy very nice broth with a nice amount of meat, I had the big bowl. V V Good! As a kicker my friend and I decided on the Iced Vietnamese Coffee it was quite good.
(4)Sally W.
I was hoping the Pho would be better than Pho in NYC but it wasn't in Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant in Philly. I had mine plain with no bean sprouts and no basil. Part of it is allergy problems and part is bean sprouts can taste too muddy sometimes for me or tastes like it is not fresh. Not sure if that is the same taste because I don't like the taste of raw bean sprouts. I'll explain why...my bf took all the bean sprouts and poured it into his soup. He noticed how funny it tasted to a point where he could not finish his soup. He thought his soup was tasting odd. I told him because it's the bean sprouts. I was right. He said they didn't clean the sprouts. EUW. He said he saw the shells/hulls falling off all the sprouts when he put it into the soup. He thinks the restaurant didn't clean the sprouts by soaking them in clean water. Euw they served dirty sprouts. That is disgusting. I thought my soup was blah and so was my meat. I had higher expectations for Pho in Philly because everyone says Pho in NYC is bad..okay it's not that great in Philly so far either. I spilled tea by accident and the waiter who was standing behind me did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Wow. Bad service. If you drink alcohol, they serve alcohol at this Pho joint!
(2)Anne K.
The first time I came here, I was told that we going to Choo Choo's for some pho - which I thought was a strange (but very cute!) name for a Vietnamese restaurant. Then I saw the little train on their sign and had a real "ohhhh" moment. Reasonably-priced, hearty bowls of pho and speedy, no nonsense service is what makes Choo Choo's a place to come back to time and time again. Pho is easy to find in Philly, but Choo Choo's definitely serves up some of the best bowls in the area.
(4)megan a.
This is the place everyone affectionately refers to as 'Choo choo' bc there's a train on the restaurant sign outside. You don't go here for the ambience; it's all about the food and it's amazing.
(5)Tim D.
This is the go-to place for Pho in the Center City area. The portions are huge, and a very large bowl of Pho with the complimentary green tea and my other staple - 2 summer rolls with Shrimp - is barely $10. Unfortunately, they are closed on Wednesdays so keep that in mind or you will be forced to get your Pho fix elsewhere which has not worked out for me in the city of Brotherly love.
(5)Bien H.
Although being a pho place, Pho Xe Lua doesn't meet my expectation at all (just fyi i'm vietnamese). The broth is not there yet, it lacks a deep 'umami' flavor, thus it tasted more like pork broth rather than beef broth- you can almost see how light-colored it is. The well-done flank is more chewy than at other standard places. Otherwise, I would give five star for other dished I have tried such as Bun Thit nuong, Bun bo hue and Hu tieu do bien Thai Lan. They were all on point especially the Bun Bo Hue. The service is just sufficient like other vietnamese places; and it's very cheap compared to other vietnamese places. I would come back, but not for the pho.
(4)Liam E.
I really love the Atmosphere at this place. When I come to Chinatown I want it to feel like I'm in Chinatown, and this place does not disappoint. And they Certainly don't disappoint with the Pho here. The broth has a good ginger taste that is almost sweet, but doesn't go overboard. The meat is good and the food comes out in minutes. I love that they have fish tanks up front with live crabs and stuff in them. Cause as I said I want to feel like I'm in Chinatown. My only knock against this place is the summer rolls we got. They seemed to be using really crappy pork but then again I only got them once. But Pho here is really tasty. And keeps me coming back. Which will be often this winter
(4)Elliot C.
A delicious and ridiculously affordable mean. 5 of us ate (with a few drinks) for about 50 bucks. Beers were only 3 bucks which is how it should be done. I had the Pho Ga (chicken pho) because I'm a big fatty on a diet but food everyone else had looked amazing. It was a light pho but very tasty. A couple across from us had a big plate of what looked like lamb chops and some greens and some sort of fish dish. I'll be back.
(4)Kathleen K.
After almost 300 reviews, there's probably not much I can say that hasn't already been said. Great food for cheap is pretty much what sums it up. I am no Pho expert, but I've had my fair share of bowls. This one was very good. the shrimp rolls were also very fresh and tasty. Service is incredibly fast so if you're looking for a quick and inexpensive dinner on a week night, this is your place
(4)Tracy O.
Amazing summer rolls, amazing pho! I have dreams about the pho here. My friend brought me here over the winter for the first time and it was the perfect meal. But now that the warm weather is coming, I'm still going eat it when it's 90 degrees out and I'm sweating like an armpit
(5)Jessica W.
Solid Pho, nothing crazy. Pretty delicious. My boyfriend got a non-pho dish was a pretty disappointed with it. But the beers were only $3 so he got over it quickly.
(3)Tiffany N.
There's not a better place to get pho in Philly. Large portions, lots of meat. Their other dishes are great too, just like home made. Prices are reasonable, not expensive. Gets crowded and tight spaces but definitely worth it.
(5)Christina N.
We had a weekend trip in Philly for the Made in America festival and stayed near Chinatown so we ate in the area every day. This is a typical no frills Vietnamese joint (run by Cantonese people as always). Our pho came piping hot with generous portions of beef and noodles, while prices still reflect what you'd expect - cheap! Throw a handful of bean sprouts, lime juice, sriracha, and hoisin sauce in there and BAM, you're golden. It was so delicious. Their Viet iced coffee also hit the spot.
(4)Naomi N.
I'm really glad that I stumbled upon this place on Yelp after searching for a Philly pho joint to satisfy yet another pho craving. The prices here are very affordable and the portions are a great deal for the price. This is a pretty casual restaurant and would be the perfect place to go to catch up with friends in Chinatown while enjoying asian cuisine. Service was awkward and not that great, but the food made up for it. For an appetizer, my boyfriend and I got 3 spring rolls, which were pretty decent compared to spring rolls at other Philly restaurants. They were crispy on the outside and the pork inside was juicy and flavorful. For my main entree, I ordered the Beef & Frank Brisket Pho, while my boyfriend ordered a Rice Dish with the minced shrimp on sugarcane, BBQ pork, and spring roll. My boyfriend said that his dish was fulfilling and he really enjoyed the BBQ pork which was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Meanwhile, I was also satisfied with my pho. The broth had a lot of flavor to it and the beef was cooked the way I liked it (not overcooked or undercooked). They gave a reasonable amount of meat and noodles in proportion to the amount of broth. I ordered a large, which was $5.95, but still had to take some home to finish. This restaurant probably gets my vote on one of the top pho locations in Philly (that I've tried so far). To top everything off, I also ordered an avocado shake, which was delicious. I noticed on the menu that they had $5 cocktails and was tempted to order some, but decided to get it next time. Everything on the alcohol menu was surprisingly cheap, from cocktails to beers to wines. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and for the price, this is a great deal for broke, college students who need weekly pho fixes, like myself. Looking forward to returning and trying out some of their alcoholic drinks!
(4)Vy D.
All aboard the Choo Choo's train whenever you're in Chinatown. Choo Choo is one of my favorite pho places in the city. It's actually the only place in Chinatown I go to for pho. At around $6 for a xlarge bowl of pho, it's the cheapest and largest bowl of pho in the Delaware Valley. If you do order the xlarge size (there's only large and xlarge bowl sizes here), be prepared for a bowl containing about a gallon of broth to be served to you, alongside a generous side dish containing sprouts, cilantro, thai basil, and jalapenos. I think the broth at Choo Choo is delicious. It is always flavorful, with a very nice balanced amount of spices. No crazy throat-drying additives in my bowl (MSG). Always a must. The other thing that I like about this place is that you won't be disappointed in the amount of noodles you're served, which I've found to be lacking at other places. Not to mention that they have the best name in all of Philadelphia. High five for the sweet name.
(4)Drew A.
Pho Xe, Choo Choo, whatever your name is...hot damn this is some good pho! Meat, noodles, fixins and such were all standard, but the broth was some of the best I've ever had. And really, that's the most important part. 6.50 for an XL bowl with rare beef. 3.50 for a shrimp roll. Free hot tea on the table. Win. Don't be fooled by other pho places in Chinatown. Choo Choo is tops!
(5)Sherry L.
Would give it a 0. Food quality is mediocre and the service was absolutely horrific. The cashier was disrespectful and threw things around.
(1)Rich W.
Fe Fi Pho failure here. On my last evening in Philly we decided to get full on Pho before heading be to NYC. Using the Yelp App we chose Pho Xe Lua. We order Pho. the first thing that came out was the extras for the Pho; bean spouts, mint leaves and lemon wedges. Lemon? Yip, No lime. The bean spouts were full of the green-brown bean casing from the growing process use to grow bean spouts. Which means they did not rinsed them properly. These casing with leave a muddy taste in the Pho and the lemon did not go well with the Pho broth. the flavor was just not right. The Pho in general was just OK. Today their broth was weak, no rich & flavorful as I was hoping for. The service was sub standard, even thought there were about 6-8 waiters standing behind us with nothing to do but to chat. At the end of the meal I spill my tea by accident and was wiping up the mess. One waiter walk by and didn't even bother to help. All the other ones were busy chatting. Hope your experience is better than mine.
(2)Ashley S.
Very good soup! I have come here a few times with friends, and we've always left stuffed and satisfied. I usually order the Tomyum seafood noodle soup which is spicy and has a Thai flavor. It is filled to the top with shrimp, squid, fish balls, mussels, and delicious rice noodles. The bowl is huge, and it takes a lot of effort to finish it. The best part is that it's less than $6! My friends rave about the beef or beef tendon Pho (I haven't tried either, but they tell me it's delicious). The last time I went, I also ordered a soursop "milkshake" for dessert. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it ended up being delicious! It had a fruity taste and was the more like shaved ice than a milkshake. My friends got the Rainbow ice, which was a shaved ice with red bean, mung bean, and jello mixed in. It sounded disgusting, but I tried a sip, and it was actually sweet and pretty good (although I don't think I'll be ordering that one in the future).
(4)Amy T.
This place was actually recommended to e and my boyfriend by my Vietnamese roommate. We were craving Pho and she said this was one of the best places to get it. The place seemed a little strange to me in the way that it was orientated to sit, but I usually feel that way when entering an unfamiliar restaurant. The person running front of house ended up seating us at a two person table, directly next to where a table of three was sitting. Which, normally wouldn't bother me, but there was about a half inch gap between tables. We were practically dining with them. I felt very invasive of their privacy considering I could hear every bit of their conversation, and majority of the time ended up being distracted by it. It would be one thing if there were no other seats available and that is where they sat us, but there was an empty table for two one row over and no people sitting at the table next to it. Honestly, that's my only complaint. The service was quick, as was the wait for our food. We both got pho ga (chicken pho). It was delicious and the portion size was big enough for us both to split it and be full. And to top it off, the bill was only about $13 for two huge portions of food. Very delicious. Very cheap. Would definitely come back for more despite being very close to other dining patrons.
(4)Ed L.
Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant is a small quaint Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown district of Philadelphia, that also serves Thai cuisine as well. In my unofficial quest to have Pho in all 50 States, my quest continues here in Pennsylvania. I found this place, along with a handful of other restaurants that served Pho and other Vietnamese dishes on Yelp. One of 2 off the list had a 4 star rating, so I decided to try this place after reading a few of the reviews. This place did not disappoint, clearly due to the fact of cheap Pho. Cheaper than most places that I have been to. $5.95 for a regular bowl and $6.95 for a large. Can't believe that! Only problem was that they had a $15 minimum charge for credit card payments, which sucked. I had to order 2 extra orders of shrimp rolls to round out over $15. It was annoying, but I had something to have for a late night snack later that night. Here I was having a late lunch here after seeing the sights of historic Philadelphia. Located on Race Street in Philadelphia Chinatown, you can tell this place was definitely the place to be. The set up was that of a Chinese / Vietnamese mixed. The servers and staff talked Chinese, so that was a dead give away for sure. I was here on a cool Thursday afternoon. Not much going on here and it wasn't busy at all. Just a few tables that were occupied. I was hurried a bit to the table and I hastily got the menu before the staff started to mingle about themselves and talk in Chinese. I ordered the regular sized Pho, not really wanting the large size that day. Not sure why, but that's what I did. Ordered an order of shrimp rolls and a soda initially for the meal. It was insane to see that the order of shrimp rolls were $3.00!! That's cheap!! So awesome this place, although the $15 minimum credit card thing was a bummer. I realized this after getting the bill. However, the Pho was pretty good, although the flavor could have been more refined to be sure. I wished that they don't do the watered down version of the Pho. Maybe next time it will be different. The shrimp rolls were okay. Nothing great about them, although they are certainly cheap and filling. The taste, however wasn't so much. Overall, do try this place for the inexpensiveness and you may find this place a hidden gem, like I have done. Be aware of the $15 minimum for credit card payments, as mentioned before. The place is well kept and managed. Plenty of staff to assist you and the service was okay. Fast and expedient. All you want at the price you want. Thanks Pho Xe Lua! It was a good experience. Maybe next time, I'll come back. Support local! B
(4)Hank C.
We came back for a visit for old-times sake, and were ushered upstairs as the first floor was very busy. With a child and two others, it was good we were separate from most - we had a lot to handle keeping the little one happy. Service was sporadic as we were one of three groups upstairs initially... but it got better once more people were seated upstairs. Still.. the serving bowl looked the same, but the noodle amount seemed less... and the broth was very clear compared to the past. A healthy dose of basil, pepper, and bean sprouts was good, but I guess after having pho in other cities now, I still find myself unsatisfied with the flavor here today. Might be too much MSG in it? Left feeling super-thirsty...
(3)Jason S.
Amazing food. Loved everything! Service was a little rude. They should train their younger waiters to be nicer and patient.
(5)Hagana K.
So I found my Philly pho spot. Really solid pho, listened to other Yelpers and stayed away from the bun bo hue. You usually want to find a place that only does bun bo hue for that soup anyway. I'm a pretty big eater and the normal large ($5.95) was more than adequate. Almost every other pho place, I usually pay the extra dollar for the larger size, but it's completely unnecessary here. Tons of meat too. Unless you're built like a lineman, or your nursing an extreme hangover, stick with the large, not the XL. one more thing - they open at 11am, not 10am. And it was more like 11:05 am on this particular Friday. One weird thing - I went right when they opened so it was me and three other tables there. I guess the full wait staff was there and didn't have much to do, so they were just kind of standing at attention, staring at us and watching us eat. I'm sure they were just being vigilant about refilling water, but it was slightly unsettling. Not so unsettling that I didn't enjoy my soup.
(5)Nam N.
I came here with a friend after 5 years absence from this restaurant :) The Pho was the same as i remembered; bad. The broth was bland and I can't really smell any Pho scent from it and i have sensitive nose. I still like their Bo Tai Chanh (Vietnamese Beef Carpaccio) and Bo Luc Lac (Vietnamese Shaking Beef).
(2)Shawn B.
This place is a place that one needs to go back to, again and again. The shrimp on sugar cane was a hit with my 8 year old, and my wife and I enjoyed the mussels and summer rolls. We all had Pho, which was wonderful. Being from Portland Oregon (with a large # of Vietnamese/Thai restaurants that rock), we had been hard pressed to find a good Pho dish here. We now have found it.
(4)Sandy C.
After a day of exploring and walking out in the rain in Philly, my friends and my stomach were calling out to us for some food. Something hot would be preferred, so we ended up here. Since my friends and I were drenched from head to toe, we've took turns and dried ourselves in the bathroom. It was awkward because the entire waitstaff likes to hangout right outside the bathroom and each of us would take about 10 minutes in the bathroom, while the hand dryer is running non-stop. The waitstaff were probably like "what the hell are these guys doing in there?" lol. Nonetheless, we've all gotten the pho since we've heard raving reviews about the broth and they were spot on. The broth here was amazing! It definitely is better than the ones I've had tried in New York. The broth here was very rich and flavorful. The food here is pretty cheap too. I wish there was a better pho place in New York and I will become their most frequent diner =)
(4)Sarah L.
If there is anyone else on a bland diet like me, this is a good place to get your eating out fix! It gets really hard to cook every meal at home, so it's finally nice to find a place that doesn't make their food too oily, fried, or spicy. Obviously they have those options on the menu as well (my friend said the spring rolls were really good) but I just got the simple chicken with rice noodles soup (pho ga) and it was clean and delicious! The chicken slices were tender, the broth wasn't too salty/oily, and they have plenty of sprouts and extra add ins. Hopefully my stomach problems will have improved by the time I come here again - I want to try the house special next time!
(5)Chaka H.
Amazing beef pho. Fast service, great (yet simple) space to dine. Definitely will be back!
(5)Daniel H.
This place is near and dear to my heart. I have been going here half of my life and i still order the same dishes. At least three of the servers date back to my high school choo choos days. The prices still rock i think dishes cost .50 cent to 1.50 more than 14 years ago. I should start to try new things there but why mess with a good thing?
(5)Sam G.
Is called Choo Choo's because of the train on their storefront signage. Oh my gosh I love this place. Everything about it. It's legitimate, food authentic, and prices unbeatable. $5.95 vs $6.95 for a large and x-large respectively. It has the hallmarks of any authentic Vietnamese restaurant: House special Pho, and spring (summer rolls). There is sriracha sauce, a bilingual menu, and asian waiters. The bowls are humongous (large vs x-large - get the x-large if you want to split with a friend). The meat is as standard as any legit viet restaurant has. The spring rolls are SO GOOD. They're big, and filled with shrimp and everything! The dipping sauce is generous and good. 2 for $3.00! It's a steal anywhere you go. Just as good as Viet restaurants in LA, if not better.
(5)Kaylin M.
Our go-to place in Philly for when we are craving pho. We always get the summer rolls and different types of pho. Food always comes out super fast and it's really affordable. Our bill is usually only $15 for the two of us.
(4)Olivier D.
Certainly one of my favorite spots in Philly. Very local. Frequented by Asians. So you know it's authentic and good. And it was... I only had a Phõ Gha size Large and I was stuffed. Nice fresh broth. It could be a little more spiced but nevertheless very very tasty. I will certainly come back here. I actually wanted to get some spring rolls but had no space left .. Next time ;)
(4)Anita C.
Needed a pho fix in Philly, this place did not disappoint. Pros: Real pho noodles, delicious broth, various meat etc. options, excellent price, ridiculous portions, excellent service, easy to find in Philly Chinatown, bathroom was clean. Cons: I wish I didn't sit facing the kitchen, it kinda grossed me out. Do I think it would be closed down by the health inspector...ummm I don't know. I know I was more squeamish than usual because I was nauseous from riding the SEPTA. Overall: I'd come here again because the food is delicious!
(4)Crystal E.
So my Asian buddies tipped me off about this place when I complained about not having good Pho in Philly. I heart you Choo Choo! I thought the Pho is good but my favorite food here is the pork chops with rice, which comes with a red/orange sauce. It's so cheap and the portions are generous. The servers/waiters are very nice too.
(4)Francis H.
This is our go to place for pho now. Everything we've had there so far has been excellent
(5)Viviane T.
Choo choo...!! If you want a tour of Vietnam in your mouth, this is the place to go. From their Pho dishes, to their oc xà o xot (hot pepper and lemon grass sate escargot) dish, to their soft shell crab melt-in-your-mouth love affair, everything is a must try! While living in Philadelphia for six years, this was my place to go when I'm home sick for my mommy's home cooking. Not only are the dishes authentic, but the prices are very reasonable, and extremely affordable. You're probably thinking, "prices are affordable? Does this mean that the dishes are small in size?" NOPE. For the prices, the portions are large, and fulfilling. The decor of this place is more homely than anything else, their main concern is food, so there's no fuss in the decorations. The service is quick (except during their peak time, when you have to wait for a table), they want to get you in, have you stuff your face, and get you out the door, they do this without making you feel rushed, or being pushy. If you're sick, and if you're an Andrew Zimmern, try their Chao Long, or innards rice porridge. If you can get pass the innards, you will enjoy this delish, make-you-feel-a-million times better dish. This was always my dish when I was feeling down or when I was sick. Basically, if you're in Philadelphia, and if you can only have one meal, do dinner, and go to Pho Xe Lua! You will NOT be disappointed and your wallet will still love you. My mouth is watering just writing this review... LOVE LOVE LOVE!
(4)Ryan M.
Having had some very bad experiences with Philly food--quality, cleanliness, and so forth--I decided to not take a chance and go to Yelp for advice on best Vietnamese/Pho places. I had a cold that needed to disappear, thus I went straight for a hot bowl of beef Pho and a (very large) side of Chinese broccoli with garlic. I would return here again and again, given the fact that this is probably the best East Coast Pho I have ever had. San Francisco and Seattle still have a handful of places that have this place beat. Regardless, it was excellent. The service is friendly, quick, and all for a very decent price. I finished my meal with a mango smoothie, which was refreshing and tasty. Highly recommended from one visitor to another!
(4)jessica g.
mmmmm choo choo! I am not the hugest pho fan in the world, but I do love me some pad thai, and they have the best pad thai in the city, especially for vegetarians. the #617 - spicy veg pad thai - is to die for. they give you a ton of it so I always get to enjoy leftovers the next day. Also, best Thai iced tea in the city. And mmm unfried shrimp spring rolls. and shrimp coconut curry.
(5)Lydia T.
Don't get it twisted. Chooch (what we tend to call it) is the best restaurant in Chinatown. Kept it under raps for years, but I'm pretty sure everyone knows about it now. Pho, water spinach and fried spring rolls. Eat them. Durian Shake and Avacodo Shake. Drink them.
(5)Yasmeen F.
I knew it was a true sign of city Asian cuisine when encountering the makeshift aquarium that held anxious lobsters and fish folk at the main entrace. The restaurant was showcased in fluorescent lights and flat screen t.v.'s that presented their dishes in high def which was a good alternative to framed pictures. The place had character and well, was kind of charming. We never felt rushed as attentive servers were only paces away tending to their tables and POS systems. We sat towards the back near a paradise etched mirror with a giant AC unit suspended over our heads- I could only imagine the summers there. Our waiter gave us a hot kettle of tea and small cups as we browsed through the menu. As a first time guest, I eagerly turned the pages to seek Pho and was amazed to find a variety of different bowls and a price tag that even a child could afford. I discreetly looked around to watch well seasoned customers twisting the noodles around their chopsticks followed by gulps of soup with their spoons. They looked like they were enjoying themselves and I just had to try it myself. And I was happy that I did. It came out piping hot, with a clear broth and substantial pieces of beef and noodles and a fresh accompaniment of sprouts, basil and limes. The other members of my party endeavored for striped bass, green curry chicken and beef with peppers over rice which they thought were satisfying. As an appetizer, we shared shrimp Pho which was both colorful and healthy. We got avocado shakes, but as a savvy Asian of Filipino descent, I knew first hand that it wasn't real avocado that they used, rather, was a mix powder blended with ice (a trick they use to entice the unknowing consumer). Bummer. And the lychee drink was practically out of the can- fruit and syrup juice together. If it's a bottle of beer you desire they have a bar, but we wanted to try their assorted juices just for giggles. In the end I barely made a dent in my Pho as I packed up the rest in a plastic container to bring home. I had it the second day and it was still very good. For under $6 bucks for my meal it certainly was a good value and quality- Pho show!
(4)Ting Y.
I have been to Philadephia Chinatown so many times before, but I didn't try this places. I read the reviews about this restaurant last week. And last Sunday, I ate there! Their Pho is awesome! My husband and I both ordered extra large special pho, and it costs $6.5 each. This thing was HUGE! This was the biggest XL Pho that I ever had. The broth was so delicious, and lots of different meat in side. They gave us much more basil and bean sprout than any other places I've ever been. I really liked it. I love lots of fresh basil and sprout in my soup. We had their Shrimp rolls too. They are larger than the ones I had before too. So even I do have big stomache, this time, I tried my best finished all the solid stuff in my pho. And this was my first time that I had lots of broth left. I will definitely go back there again! I will go there tomorrow again, exciting!
(5)Brandon L.
good pho, the broth is nice and clear and beefy. Best of all, the price is $6.50 for a small to go.
(4)Philly D.
Always good and very inexpensive.
(4)Jessica C.
Screw fast food, nothing beats pho here for a cheap, fast meal. Loses points for cleanliness (the floor and the corners tend to look a little grimy) but I've never had any issues personally, so I keep coming back for more!
(4)Michael G.
Ok. I'm a white guy, but having traveled a great deal and the fact that I eat Pho at least once a week, makes me qualified to write this review. One of my favorite dishes is Beef and Tendon Pho, but what I was served here was bad. The tendon was overcooked and way too soft, with chunks of fat hanging off it. The the beef was tasteless and tough. The bean sprouts were yellow and stale. I could go on about this for another page, but I feel that I've said enough.
(1)Vincent J.
This is my favorite spot for Viet food, Cheap, great food probable the best in China town.
(5)Sy S.
Delicious & cheap. I have been a regular customer for a decade... even though I live in Seattle now. I have even tried to replicate their yellow curry dish using TJ's yellow curry sauce, but I can't come close. I just have to wait til the next time I'm back in Philly. p.s. I believe my friend came up with the nickname "choo choo" 10 years ago while we were in college (she discovered it)... Well, at least I like to think so. :)
(5)Pearl H.
I LOVE PHILLY PHO! I so miss my hometown Viet food! We used to frequent every weekend, and sometimes thrice a week! This place is so good, cheap, dingy, but oh so good! Nothing beats the Pho broth here, I don't know why, must be the dirty Philly tap, but whatever it is I definitely recommend! Stuffed grape leaves are awesome! and so are the typical apps (Shrimp Rolls and such!). Great for groups too, so if you have a big party no worries they have a second floor seating area. Very casual and cheap, I highly recommend!
(5)Kim V.
Great Pho!
(4)Er B.
It's awesome. I love it. Fast lunch, quick service. Always friendly. This is now my go-to spot in Chinatown for vermicelli and pho.
(5)Lin Z.
My favorite Viet restaurant. I went there on a weekly basis and never got disappointed.
(5)Nicey J.
Delish.. I always get the fried rice and shrimp rolls best fried rice I've ever tasted !!! The rolls are delish I love the vegetarian and seafood soups ... I knocked a star off because of the service otherwise delish !!!!!! I'll continue to go here despite feeling ignored once they bring out the food .... Which may I add comes out astonishingly quick!!
(4)mike j.
pho what its worth, we enjoyed ourselves. the papaya salad could have been a bit spicier. but that was easily remedied with some fresh jalapeno's on the side. the pho itself was huge, tasty and at a great price. service was extra attentive.
(4)Nancy S.
The raw beef alone gets it 5 stars. Been coming here for years and the pad thai never disappoints, it's #3 in the city for pad thai in my opinion.
(5)