Pho Phong Lu'u

The pho at Pho Phong Lu'u is our favorite in town, and we’re clearly not the only people in agreement, as evidenced by the line spilling out of the North Austin restaurant around lunchtime every weekend. But true to the nature of its namesake dish, Pho Phong Lu’u opens at 10am, making it one of the few spots in town where you can grab a bowl of piping hot pho for a late breakfast as the dish is generally eaten in its country of origin. But even if you don’t find yourself hitting the snooze button a few too many times to catch the tail-ends of a morning meal, we’ve found the pho here to be just as satisfying for weekday lunches, weekend hangovers, and all-the-time noodle soup cravings.

Don’t expect any frills in the dining room—it’s a large, open room with tables pressed up close enough to each other to make squeezing between them feel like awkwardly shuffling back into your window seat on an airplane. None of that matters. You’re here for the best pho in Austin, and maybe a few wings or bánh mì that will likely arrive with or after your entree. Just think of them as very savory, chicken or baguette desserts.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Crispy Chicken Wings With Garlic Fish Sauce

The garlic fish sauce makes these some of our favorite flavored wings in Austin—it’s sticky, sweet, salty, and incredibly savory. But it can also be a little hit or miss on whether or not the chicken skin will arrive crispy or chewy. Either way, we’d order these again.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Pho

We’ve said it before, but it deserves to be said again. This is the best pho in Austin, and if you find yourself generally craving a bowl of hot, savory, noodle soup, it’s one of the best options all around. The meats on top are pretty standard, with the exception of the meatballs which are among the best in town, with a springy bite that makes them almost pop. We like to choose the “make your own option,” start with meatballs, then add on flank, fatty brisket, tendon, and whatever else we’re in the mood for that day.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Special Vietnamese Sandwich

While some Vietnamese places offer a full menu of bánh mì options, choices are a little more sparse at Pho Phong Lu’u. There’s an egg version, a tofu option, and a more classic one filled with cold cuts, head cheese, and pâté. We’re big fans of the latter—the meat is super savory, with a bunch of soft and crunchy textures balancing each other out, and some pickled carrots to add a bit of acidity. If you’re here for breakfast, consider the egg sandwich. Otherwise, stick with the classic house special.