Bun Bo Hue Restaurant

Why have i taken so long to write a review for this place?! Hands down, thee best bbh in town. Hole in the wall place but amazing signature dish. The only way my family and i order it. …extra extra spicy. Must be that laos blood in us. The bowl is filled with a wonderfully flavorful broth, thin slices of meat, chunks of blood cubes, Viet ham and my fav… pork knuckles! Accompanied with your bbh is a heaping plate of herbs at add to your noodles. Trust me, it won’t disappoint.

Our visits to Portland haven’t been complete before we started to come here for breakfast! Yes, you read that right, Bun Bo Hue for breakfast! We usually come there as soon as they’re open b/​c they have limited space and parking. Their building is pretty old and it doesn’t have a good ambience, but the food there is so good. Their bun bo hue is off the hook! I love their broth and all the garnishes that comes with the soup! They also have very good Café Da aka iced Vietnamese coffee w/​condensed milk! Be aware this coffee will make your eyes so awake and bright like diamonds in the sky!:))) We can’t wait to go back and have their soup & coffee!

My bf loves bun bo hue and told me this was the best place to get it in portland and I was not disappointed. Sorry cali, but I found my favorite spot for bbh! every bowl comes out piping hot and the service is quick and straight to the point. I also like how you can ask for more spice to your bowl. Weekends can get crowded since this is a small restaurant but I find that weekdays you do not need to wait. Beware! Highly addicting bowl of soup.

This is the go-​to place for BBH. The bowl and veggie side dish include all of the traditional ingredients! I have brought friends, family, and loved ones here and they have all loved this restaurant (but they will never love it more than I do). I would dare challenge the social norms and go eat alone for the sakes of satisfying my BBH cravings here! It is all worth the pride of eating alone.
To support my defense of how amazing the BBH here: my father ordered another bowl after trying one bowl for the first time!
Staff is very friendly! The waiter/​host (never did learn his name) would always greet me and drop funny comments and make me feel very welcome whenever I go there and eat by myself!

Like I imagine being in Vietnam and go into a hole in the wall authentic mom and pop restaurant soup was amazing salad rolls yummy and sauce was definitely home made

The vermicelli noodle bowls with pork are excellent. My girlfriend and I also had the salad rolls with the best peanut sauce in the world. Definitely coming back to try all the different things. Stop in and try it.

100% this place does not mess around with bbh (bun bo hue). Heck! It’s in their name. It’s an out right sin to go order something that’s not what the place is named for.
It’s a hole in the wall type of place. Tables are a tad sticky, floors with a nice crusted layer of dust, specials taped to the wall on paper, plastic folded tables, etc. Despite all of this, the kitchen is completely open and that part is clean. The place is always packed with a steady flow of customers. There’s no long wait.
It’s a family own and operated restaurant and everyone is so nice. If you want to feel at home without the bs of pressure to look good to go out, this is the place to be. The owner will etch into his mind what you usually get. It’s nice to walk in and just say you want the regular. I haven’t looked at the menu for years.
I usually get bbh without the blood cubes and pig feet. Not sure why but that part makes me shiver. The spice level is never consistent. Spicy one day may be a mild for another and other days spicy feels like you sent your tongue to the sizzling depths of the earth.
I’ve gotten other things from here, before I discovered the greatness of bbh. Any rice plates or hu tieu bowls are great. I wish I lived closer so I can go here more often.

Best spot for sure on the East side. Veggies are fresh and if you order it hot there is a great chance you’ll be sweating. The broth is very flavorful but a tad sweet for me. The guy who runs the place is very nice and they never disappoint. Tan Tan’s bbh on the west side is still preferred. I will also say that the décor could use a touch up and the tea cups could use an upgrade from plastic. Don’t let that deter you because the bbh is really good and the service is always great.

If you are looking for authentic vietnamese look no further! I would have never in a million years walken in or stayed once I did had it not been for the reviews! Im glad I decided to try it! Was craving phở and had the namesake dish bun bo hue. Excellent but make sure if you don’t know what your ordering ASK!!! Trust me on this.

Bottom line is this place is on point.
It may smell like fish sauce and the tables are a bit sticky but that is neither here nor there. The place is family owned by a brother/​sister/​mother combo and they keep it real OG. Nicest and most down to earth people ever.
As you sit down, you may notice that the drink specials are handwritten on lined paper that was ripped out of a notebook and taped to the wall. If that’s not some straight up in your face type playa shiet then I don’t know what is. You may also be in observance of the high quality outdoor plastic fold-​up tables in the middle of the dining room. This appears to be a tactical maneuver, as it feels like you’re at a picnic. Finally, a flat screen tv plays a Vietnamese language show at a pretty high volume, solely for the comfort and enjoyment of the customer.
Let me digress. I have frequented this joint so often that they refuse to give me a menu. They just tell me what I’m going to eat and that is the large #22 with egg noodle. I say ok and then I bow to them. Then I am handed my large cup of iced tea water so I can finally chill and watch my shows.
In summary, if you’re looking for a fine dining experience and want to be asked how your day is going then go to a high caliber restaurant like Applebee’s. If you’re trying to get down with a proper bowl of noodle soup then go to Bun Bo Hue Restaurant and stop acting all bougie about shit.

I’ve heard lots of different things about this place but, the commonality, is that they have the best Bun Bo Hue in town. The other rumor of it smelling like pee is what have kept me from trying this place for the longest time. Last Sunday, we decided to try something different and went…
Don’t be scared by the sketchy exterior, barred windows, uneven floors, dirt-​stained hot water dispenser and phone handle. I know this place could use some bleach to surfaces, however, give it a chance. When we walked in, I was surprised to find it packed inside despite how it looked on the outside. Perfect timing, we were seated at the last available table before a rush of people came in. The server brought us menus and two glasses of brown colored water – my friend was a little concerned. I told him not to worry, my cousin does that all the time… it’s just a mixture of tea and water. Like a diluted iced tea with a slight hint of jasmine. I ordered their namesake, Bun Bo Hue, in the small size with Tai and very spicy. My friend got Bun Bo Hue, small, with Tai and Fresh Raw Beef but regular. Also an ordered of fried chicken wings. The level of spiciness for the Bun Bo Hue are regular, slightly spicy, and very spicy. There are other options too if you aren’t into the spicy beef noodle soup.
When my soup came out, it had the right amount of redness to the base so I knew it would be to my standard of spiciness. My friend was a little jealous that his soup wasn’t as vibrant – next time, slightly spicy for him. It checked off on my list of must-​haves in authentic Bun Bo Hue: thick noodles, pork roll, ham hock, blood pudding (which I don’t eat), and banana blossoms for garnish. Check check! Soup had good flavour and all the necessary components. Took a bite of the fried chicken, it was very dry so I didn’t even finish the piece. Stick to what they do best, the Bun Bo Hue.
It’s a small space, however, the tables turnover pretty quickly. The only awkward thing is that there are people standing around waiting to be seated and they just stare at you eat. Just lick your ham hock and make eye contact, it makes them uncomfortable and they will look away. Definitely a diamond in the rough.

seeking some ramen or phở nearby I failed when my GPS lead me to Phở Vietnam. It was shut. I had heard of Bun Bo Hue and found my way into this humble establishment.
Reception was fine. I sort of looked around and saw a family sitting in a booth. Not much for aesthetics, but it was very good. I got their signature Bun Bo Hue to go.
It was spicy and traveled well. Humble and Efficient.

Walked in and then walked out. Dirty, small, dank, dingy, smelly, etc., etc.
I will be honest I did not try the food, I just could not get over the filthy dining room.

I’m not a fan of Bun Bo Hue (a traditional Viet dish) but everyone that loves this dish raves about how this place is awesome.
Definitely a mom and pop restaurant (aka they may go on vacation and just close the entire place) but the food was really good.

Sorry mom but this place has the best Bun Bo Hue!
This was my last meal in Portland before returning home to Salt Lake City and I was so happy about this decision! I went with four local friends that were all well acquainted with the restaurant owner. We never even looked at a menu because they insisted that the soup the restaurant is named after is the only thing to order; I followed along with blind faith. I got a regular without blood cubes and spice on the side.
The bowl that arrived was humongous and steaming hot. The herbs and sauces on the side were abundant and a requirement when eating bun bo hue. The beef and pig’s feet were so tender and I worked hard to get at every last bit of meat. The broth was flavorful and the noodles were cooked well. I inhaled every last bit of my meal and was in a blissful daze all day.
The interior isn’t fancy but it’s clean. The service is prompt and attentive without being overwhelming. I felt like I was back in Vietnam eating at a little shop on the side of the road in Hue. This place is at the top of my list when I return to Portland.

The thing is when I walked in, it reminded me of Vietnam. Let me explain, you won’t find a brand new restaurant with new fixings. This is not a diss, either. This place has been around for awhile. It’s obvious that regulars frequent the joint.
When we sat down, the server was quick to ask if we wanted tea or water and prompt about bringing it to us. That’s usually the norm in Asian places but the service was nice, like a homey nice. We ordered the bun bo hue with everything and split it, the broth was incredible… flavorful, spicey, delicious. The noodles and add ins (banana root/​leaf, extra mints) were perfect. My girl had no issues finishing the rest of the bowl (and all the broth). We also got the hue special pork roll which is the Vietnamese steamed sausage and it was yummy. The server even told us not to order the large haha
All in all, I really dig this place. The food, price and service make it worthwhile. Bathroom was clean too (cause I know all ya’ll Unilocalers need to know).

Very delicious BBH, they have a menu but I don’t really know why considering what this place is known for. The only thing that kept this review from being a five star review is that the broth I had during this particular visit was a bit on the sweet side.
Recommended: Big and Extra Spicy!

I love this place! I go here pretty often and only get one thing… BUN BO HUE. The place itself definitely has a hole in the wall feel and there’s no air conditioning to cool you down as you are eating the hot bun bo but it’s totally worth it. Only downside is, I’m starting to notice that their serving sizes are getting smaller :(

The soups are great. The broth is amazing. The chicken and beef based broths will warm your tummy on a gloomy cold day. I would definitely put this place towards the top on the list of best Asian soups in portland. It’s not a fancy or pretty place, but they cook some of the best soup in town. Very flavorful and the opposite of bland.
This isn’t a place where you go on a first date, as the smell inside isn’t great. The ventilation is a bit poor, but I didn’t grow up in a Vietnamese house hold. So if you did, you may not notice the smell.

This is by far the best BBH restaurant in all of Portland. It a mom and pop place and the owners are very friendly. I come here at least once a week. The broth is really good and fast, friendly service.
I highly recommend the Bun Bo Hue here. The rice dishes are good too. The price is very reasonable, around $ 10 for a bowl.