Pho
Vietnamese beef and chicken noodle soup, with a focus on Argyle Street and beyond.
Hai Yen
The standout bowl on Argyle: beefy but light, with warm spice.
Pho 888
Clear clove-and-anise broth in a no-frills room.
Pho 777
A big classic Argyle dining room, good for groups.
Sochi Saigonese Kitchen
A Bib Gourmand Saigonese spot. The pick for a sit-down night out.
Ca Phe Da
HaiSous's daytime sibling, with a clean broth in a sunny room.
Phodega
Half pho counter, half corner store. Great if you're not going to Argyle.
Pho, and where to find it
Pho (pronounced "fuh") is Vietnam's beef noodle soup: a clear broth simmered for hours with star anise, clove and cinnamon, poured over rice noodles and thin-sliced beef. You finish it yourself at the table with herbs, bean sprouts, lime, chilies and sauces.
In Chicago, the center of it all is Argyle Street in Uptown, the heart of the city's Vietnamese community. You'll find several strong pho shops within a couple of blocks.
How to order: "Phở đặc biệt" is the house special, with a mix of brisket, rare steak, tendon, tripe and meatballs. If you'd rather keep it simple, ask for rare steak and brisket.
Explore the neighborhood with our Andersonville, Uptown & Edgewater guide.