Best Trendy Pho Restaurants in Chicago
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Phodega
Vietnamese American pho-and-bodega hybrid where bowls and snacks share the spotlight.
Notable Picks
#1
Phodega
8.5
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Trendy Table Hotspots
Opened in 2019 by co-owners Nathan Hoops and Anthony Ngo, Phodega is an Asian-American noodle and snack shop where Vietnamese pho and Hainan-style chicken rice anchor a tight, bodega-inspired menu. Locals use it as a go-to for deeply flavored broth, comforting rice plates, and playful creations like the Viet Dip, with shelves of Asian snacks turning a quick meal into a full-on corner-store stop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pho Bo (Beef Pho), Hainan Style Chicken Rice, Viet Dip Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Vietnamese American pho-and-bodega hybrid where bowls and snacks share the spotlight.
8.5
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Girls Night Out Approved
Trendy Table Hotspots
RYUU is a Logan Square all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and sushi house where tabletop grills, combo platters, and long maki menus keep groups busy for hours. The draw is value and variety more than delicacy, with steady crowds using it for birthdays, gatherings, and casual celebrations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kalbi short ribs for the grill, Pork belly BBQ, Korean fried chicken wings
What Makes it Special: An AYCE Korean BBQ hub mixing grill-your-own meats with big sushi spreads.
8.3
Ocean Grill & Bar is a Vietnamese seafood specialist where razor clams, shellfish, and deeply flavored pho share the table in a bright, beach-leaning dining room just west of Chinatown. It functions as both a destination for Hanoi-style dishes and a place to linger over shared plates and hot pots.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled razor clams with scallion oil, Rare beef and brisket pho, Bun cha Hanoi
What Makes it Special: Vietnamese seafood and pho in a full-service setting with standout shellfish.
#4
Tank Noodle
8.3
A high-traffic Uptown standby built for big-bowl pho cravings and wide-menu Vietnamese comfort. The move is to order one pho anchor, then add one snacky starter (spring rolls or crispy bites) and stop before the table turns into chaos.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pho dac biet, Bun bo Hue, Vietnamese spring rolls (goi cuon)
What Makes it Special: Big-menu pho house with proven, high-volume Uptown staying power.