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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

by Gwendolyn Knapp
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Mint Modern
| Photo: Brasted
by Gwendolyn Knapp

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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MoPho

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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.
514 City Park Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 482-6845
(504) 482-6845

Also featured in:

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.
5100 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Also featured in:

Namese

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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.
4077 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 483-8899
(504) 483-8899

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.
1813 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 599-9999
(504) 599-9999

Also featured in:

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.
7900 Maple St, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 373-5628
(504) 373-5628

Also featured in:

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.
4201 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 896-7611
(504) 896-7611

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.
605 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 70005
(504) 309-0519
(504) 309-0519

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.
1401 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70001

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.
1200 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA

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.
300 Baronne Street, New Orleans, LA 70112

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MoPho

514 City Park Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
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.
514 City Park Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 482-6845
(504) 482-6845

MINT Modern

5100 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115
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.
5100 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Namese

4077 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
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.
4077 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 483-8899
(504) 483-8899

Lilly's Cafe

1813 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
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.
1813 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 599-9999
(504) 599-9999

Ba Chi Canteen

7900 Maple St, New Orleans, LA 70118
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.
7900 Maple St, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 373-5628
(504) 373-5628

Magasin

4201 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
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.
4201 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 896-7611
(504) 896-7611

Rolls N' Bowls

605 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 70005
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.
605 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 70005
(504) 309-0519
(504) 309-0519

Pho Orchid Express

1401 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70001
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.
1401 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70001

Pho Bistreaux

1200 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA
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.
1200 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA

Viet Orleans Bistro

300 Baronne Street, New Orleans, LA 70112
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.
300 Baronne Street, New Orleans, LA 70112

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