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A bright green sign hangs outside a restaurant reading “Mint Modern Vietnamese Bistro & Bar”
Mint Modern
Photo: Brasted

The Pho Heatmap: Where to Eat Pho Right Now

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Mint Modern
| Photo: Brasted

In this week's Advocate, Ian McNulty notes that "it seems like Vietnamese flavors are coming at us from every corner. Lately, they've been coming from many different perspectives as well," including the latest openings of Mint Modern on Freret and MoPho in Mid City. Yes, the past couple of years have given rise to a new wave of Vietnamese joints that are switching things up a bit. They're quick, casual, sleek, fun, run by primarily a younger-generation of restaurateurs and located all over the city. Here now, in regards to all the steamy newcomers, is Eater Nola's Pho Heatmap.

Before anybody gets all cray, please keep in mind, these aren't the conventional pho favorites, such as Tan Dinh and Pho Tau Bay, or even Pho Ga Quong Minh, where the duck soup is one of the Westbank's best kept secrets. These restaurants have all opened in the past year (some a tad longer), and are part of a growing trend of not-so-traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

Still don't see a hot new pho joint on the map? Leave a comment or send Eater a tip.


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Chef Michael Gulotta's intention isn't to be totally authentic. Here the former August chef serves pho with a contemporary Southern twist...think hogs head cheese, chicken dumplins', or duck sausage. Go early or expect a wait time, as this new Mid City spot is going off. Also, don't park at Burger King or you'll be towed.

MINT Modern

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This new Vietnamese bistro from first time restaurateur Jimmy Tran has just joined the Freret fray, and offers all the traditional phos, plus a VEGAN option, which is practically unheard of in New Orleans.
Order the pho with filet, and thin slices of raw meat arrive on a side place . Place them in the broth, and the meat cooks instantly, perfectly. Also, they have a pho and half banh mi combo, which is a beautiful thing.

Lilly's Cafe

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In January's Food & Wine, chef Donald Link revealed that Lilly's is his favorite pho joint in New Orleans. Why? "The phos at this Vietnamese spot have what other places don't— a rich broth." Ya heard.

Ba Chi Canteen

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Operated by Phat Vu and Quinn Nguyen of Tan Dinh fame, this is one of the best options for contemporary Vietnamese with lots of amazing specialty items and pork belly dishes. No shock that the pho is also kick ass.

Magasin

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Nola native Kim Nguyen's Magazine hot spot practically started the contemporary Vietnamese trend in 2012. Magasin has a sleek, comfortable interior and a menu that's cheap, quick, and actually an offshoot of Houston's Cafe TH, where Nguyen worked for a period after Katrina. They too have a VEGAN pho.

Rolls N' Bowls

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Old Metairie's Vietnamese cafe Rolls N Bowls opened in 2013. They specialize in spring rolls, but the pho is excellent too, and best of all, the place is exceptionally quick and in a location that ya Mominem would like to join you for lunch, before dragging you on a nearby Hallmark Store/Pier 1 shopping spree.

Pho Orchid Express

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While the Pho Orchid team aims to open their upcoming Uptown location soon, this speedy Express spot on Airline is like a better solution for fast food. The pho can come in "combo" form with a 'baby' bowl alongside half a banh mi or 2 spring rolls/ eggrolls and a drink for only $7.95. Steal.

Pho Bistreaux

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On Carrollton in the former Juicy D's, this sleek cafe is more than just a magnet for college kids. They're speedy and friendly, with a slew of spring rolls and phos that do the trick, especially the pho ga, which can be ordered with tender dark meat falling of the bone.

Viet Orleans Bistro

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This little cafe in the CBD opened in 2013 and doesn't get talked about much, but serves it's purpose well, supplying Vietnamese favorites, including bowls of pho (they even have shrimp/fish ball option) to the lunch mob of office workers.

MoPho

Chef Michael Gulotta's intention isn't to be totally authentic. Here the former August chef serves pho with a contemporary Southern twist...think hogs head cheese, chicken dumplins', or duck sausage. Go early or expect a wait time, as this new Mid City spot is going off. Also, don't park at Burger King or you'll be towed.

MINT Modern

This new Vietnamese bistro from first time restaurateur Jimmy Tran has just joined the Freret fray, and offers all the traditional phos, plus a VEGAN option, which is practically unheard of in New Orleans.

Namese

Order the pho with filet, and thin slices of raw meat arrive on a side place . Place them in the broth, and the meat cooks instantly, perfectly. Also, they have a pho and half banh mi combo, which is a beautiful thing.

Lilly's Cafe

In January's Food & Wine, chef Donald Link revealed that Lilly's is his favorite pho joint in New Orleans. Why? "The phos at this Vietnamese spot have what other places don't— a rich broth." Ya heard.

Ba Chi Canteen

Operated by Phat Vu and Quinn Nguyen of Tan Dinh fame, this is one of the best options for contemporary Vietnamese with lots of amazing specialty items and pork belly dishes. No shock that the pho is also kick ass.

Magasin

Nola native Kim Nguyen's Magazine hot spot practically started the contemporary Vietnamese trend in 2012. Magasin has a sleek, comfortable interior and a menu that's cheap, quick, and actually an offshoot of Houston's Cafe TH, where Nguyen worked for a period after Katrina. They too have a VEGAN pho.

Rolls N' Bowls

Old Metairie's Vietnamese cafe Rolls N Bowls opened in 2013. They specialize in spring rolls, but the pho is excellent too, and best of all, the place is exceptionally quick and in a location that ya Mominem would like to join you for lunch, before dragging you on a nearby Hallmark Store/Pier 1 shopping spree.

Pho Orchid Express

While the Pho Orchid team aims to open their upcoming Uptown location soon, this speedy Express spot on Airline is like a better solution for fast food. The pho can come in "combo" form with a 'baby' bowl alongside half a banh mi or 2 spring rolls/ eggrolls and a drink for only $7.95. Steal.

Pho Bistreaux

On Carrollton in the former Juicy D's, this sleek cafe is more than just a magnet for college kids. They're speedy and friendly, with a slew of spring rolls and phos that do the trick, especially the pho ga, which can be ordered with tender dark meat falling of the bone.

Viet Orleans Bistro

This little cafe in the CBD opened in 2013 and doesn't get talked about much, but serves it's purpose well, supplying Vietnamese favorites, including bowls of pho (they even have shrimp/fish ball option) to the lunch mob of office workers.

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