When you crave Vietnamese food, you might picture a strip-mall pho joint with fluorescent lights and plastic chairs. But Baltimore offers more. While those reliable spots exist on every other corner (and thus won’t appear here), this list celebrates the exceptional—our top picks for fragrant pho sipped at a sun-drenched counter, banh mi devoured on a park bench, and shaking beef savored while watching the harbor.
Pho Tran
$ | (410) 787-8818 | WEBSITE
Pho. That’s the first thing that comes to mind when we think of this Vietnamese spot in Baltimore. Somehow, as soon as we catch a whiff of that fragrant, simmering broth from the kitchen, we end up ordering far more than we planned on. Pho Tran closes at 9pm, so this is also a useful option if you want to be in and out with a comforting bowl for an evening meal, or want to bring takeout home later.
Juicy King Crab House (Belair)
$$ | (410) 870-3900 | WEBSITE
Juicy King Crab House is a seafood spot from the team behind some of Baltimore’s best Vietnamese restaurants. In addition to their Belair location, they have other outposts around the city. The menu features standout items they’ve perfected—crispy Crab Rangoon, which you can get as an appetizer or part of a combo meal, and tender S3 Roast Duck.
Save room for their juicy and crispy fries and a refreshing drink, and you’ll have a sit-down meal that regulars in the neighborhood recommend for special occasions and casual dinners alike.
Pho Dat Thanh
$ | (410) 296-9118 | WEBSITE
Imagine—some people live in a city where a quiet meal doesn’t end with rich broth or fresh herbs. Luckily, we live here, and Pho Dat Thanh is tucked away in Towson. You’ll see people settling in with books or laptops, claiming they know how to relax. The small, serene spot serves up affordable pho and fried rice, but our must-have is the D1 Pho Dac Biet topped with sprouts and greens.
They put generous portions of meat in a deep, flavorful broth, and it’s a simple and soothing way to stay full while you plan your next quiet afternoon.
Pho Saigon Hanoi
$ | (443) 495-7900 | WEBSITE
Pho Saigon Hanoi is nestled in Baltimore’s vibrant dining scene. They offer table service in a clean, modest space, and there’s ample seating where you can enjoy your meal in a calm, not-too-loud atmosphere. Along with attentive, cheerful hosts, they have flavorful pho with expertly cooked meats, aromatic spices, and shrimp summer rolls that are popular with guests.
And while the noodles might occasionally arrive in a somewhat unappetizing block, the affordability of each hearty bowl ($14-$18) is a nice consolation prize.
PHO 5UP HANOVER
$ | (410) 582-8135 | WEBSITE
This Hanover pho spot is exactly what you’d hope for, and just what you want: a straightforward menu of comforting Vietnamese classics with flavorful broths and fresh ingredients. Our must-order items are the #5 combo with various beef types and, naturally, the #13 with tripe and tendon. Everything is under $18 and comes with customizable broth options, so you can get a delicious, satisfying, no-frills meal that the whole family can enjoy for less than your weekly takeout budget.
Pho Saigon
$ | (410) 744-2740 | WEBSITE
There are a couple of Vietnamese spots in Baltimore (in the downtown area and near the harbor). And at both, you can swing by and head out with a steaming bowl of pho loaded with extra meats, hot spring rolls with tasty filling, and a refreshing iced tea in the time it takes to drive from the Inner Harbor to Fells Point.
Unlike a few places in this guide where reservations and spacious seating aren’t part of the deal, this pho restaurant has a clean, beautiful atmosphere—just in case life allows for a thirty-minute lunch break.
Pho 7 Rich
$ | (410) 248-0678 | WEBSITE
Pho 7 Rich on Baltimore’s east side dishes out hearty, authentic Vietnamese food in generous portions. On any given day, you’ll find plenty of folks who think the only way to truly start the day—or power through the afternoon—is with a big, steaming bowl of pho. Our go-to is the Tái chín nạm, loaded with tender slices of rare steak, well-done brisket, and tripe in that incredible, aromatic broth. Grab a bowl of that and pair it with the sweet, strong iced Vietnamese coffee.
That’s what we call a perfect meal—whether it’s lunch at noon or a late dinner after a long day, when only something this satisfying will do.
Pho Miss Saigon
$ | (410) 761-8721 | WEBSITE
This family-owned Vietnamese spot in Baltimore makes some of the best chicken pho and grilled pork chops in town, along with one of our favorite lunch specials. The pho broth here is rich and aromatic, perfect for cold days, and served in generous bowls that warm you right up. Plus, the cozy restaurant gets bonus points for including a spring roll with lunch orders that adds a nice crispy touch to the meal.
Get your pho topped with fresh herbs and bean sprouts, or skip it and go for the bun cha gio with its juicy grilled pork. Either way, you’ll be back for more of that authentic flavor in no time.
Mona’s Super Noodle
$ | (667) 930-3119 | WEBSITE
Despite the name, this Baltimore spot isn’t entirely about the noodles—everything the Vietnamese restaurant makes is pretty great. From the excellent sides like Mango Sticky Rice to the various bowls (go for the Pho Vegetable) and loaded Pineapple Rice, it’s all going to make you feel like you’ve been doing this meal thing all wrong. Of course, all of the pho is fantastic, but it’s the life-affirming broth that has locals popping in for one, two, or four bowls on a daily basis.
Mekong Delta Café
$ | (443) 955-1100 | WEBSITE
Tucked away in a food hall that could use some sprucing up, Mekong Delta Café is exactly what Baltimore needed: somewhere to duck into for a comforting bowl of pho between meetings or errands downtown. But the setting isn’t the only reason we keep telling friends about this spot—that deep, flavorful broth with fresh noodles has us craving it days later (completely reasonable). We usually go for the chicken pho with its generous portion, and we always add an order of summer rolls on the side.
Pho Pasteur
$ | (410) 744-7220 | WEBSITE
This casual, takeout-friendly spot in Baltimore is easy to find. When you walk up, you’ll see the bright sign and people lining up as excited as opening day at Camden Yards. But gloriously, it’s still (almost always) an in-and-out-in-under-15 experience. We love the banh mi and smoothies, but it’s their pho that we eat in slow motion just to make the sips last longer. The rich, flavorful broth comes in each bowl, and it’s loaded with well-cooked, juicy beef, bean sprouts, and fresh herbs.
We’d love to walk around with a personal thermos of the broth in our pockets, but that would be hard to explain at the office.
