Pho & I

Food is great, however the staff (a few of them) doesn’t have any clue about dishes on the menu. Stands behind counter too much, you pretty much have to flag them down just to get there attention.

I used to loooove this place because they had the most amazing Thai curries. Unlike other places, the Thai curries here were the perfect consistency, not too watery or runny. I tried to go back last summer and couldn’t find the place. I’m a little confused after reading other reviews… Did they close and reopen under a different name? Are they still in the same location? I can’t imagine that this kind of confusion is good for business.

I purchased a groupon from Phở and I a couple months back. It took me awhile to locate this place only to find out that they have closed down or otherwise moved and renamed the business? Finally I found the place, walked in, and left out very disappointed. They said that they are not affiliated with Phở and I and can not acknowledge the groupon. This gets me wonder why on earth they still use the Phở and I titled under Unilocal.Oh well. I will definitely never dine at such a place again.

The food was pretty good, however, I would like to make a few suggestions to the owners.
Turned off or dim some of the light

HORRIBLE DELIVERY SERVICE… waiting for over an hour and a half… mind you I called and was told the driver left 30 minutes ago. Finally after another 30 minutes of waiting he showed up. Obviously my food was cold.
NEVER AGAIN!

Disguised as a Thai place?! I had to back track to find it coz it’s called «Duck Walk.»
It’s in the DePaul area. Sort of a walk from the fullerton red line station (but that was because I was in some painful flats at the time).
The Phở is decently decent. That’s how I’d describe it. I was in Chicago for business so I was staying near the mag mile and didn’t want to travel all the way to argyle (which yes I know that’s where the legit phở places are). so I ended up here. It wasn’t the best but it would do the job if you’re in the area and need a quick phở fix.
Tank Noodle is still better than here. But I have yet to find the perfect bowl of Phở in Chicago.

I know there are many who look at food drenched in oil and immediately think, «SCORE!!!» While I’m not by any means saying I’m an anti-​oil-​type eater, I do think there’s a fine line between just the right amount of oil to add flavor and texture to a dish, and a downright oil spill. Phở and I for me has gotten that balance down pat, with a light but just-​filling-​enough phở that made many a Chicago evening for me. I’m not saying that the phở here really competes with the phở in California, but I will say that I have many a fond memory getting back in touch with my Asian roots here during my grad-​school days (I went to J-​school in the Midwest, and I’m from SF. This was quite invaluable to me). Pad Thai here was also quite tasty.
Oh yeah, and I also think the name is cute.

What is better on a cold Chicago night than a warm bowl of Phở??? This place is pretty good for dine in or carry out. You must try to the coconut milk soup (Tom Kha)!! A friend turned me on to it and it’s so delicious.
My staple items from Phở & I are usually along the lines of: Spring rolls, crab Rangoon, Cucumber salad, Phở Bo or Pad Thai (and of course the Tom Kha). It’s actually pretty affordable for a family of 4 for delivery (we have 2 small kids and they share a dish).
Yum!

Pretty decent place, very good value for money and the staff who work here are very nice, friendly and kind!
The food is pretty good, nothing to write home about but if you are in the mood and in the area it is worth stopping in for a meal.

This review is for their phở.
I am from Seattle, and Phở is a STAPLE in my diet. Its also my hangover food, and finding authentic Phở near my place has proven difficult. I can’t always be going to Uptown to find it. After a decent search (6 other places) I can say this is the most authentic phở in this area. I love it. I order delivery at least once a week. Delivery is always fast, and they always get my order right. (I always order an extra side of beef and an extra side of noodles) I’ve never eaten IN the restaurant, but have picked up once, and the place is bright and clean and fairy decent sized.

Adore. I’m a Pad Thai addict.
I loved Duck Walk for the longest time, moved further away but kept hunting for that same pad thai. It’s here at Phở & I. Great for take out and equally great for a date. Love the BYOB. Love the Bravo TV playing in that ONE TV in the corner. Love the little green candies that I still can’t decipher the flavor of.

If you don’t have good broth, you might as well change the name of your noodle shop to «We’re Phocked.» Fortunately theirs is great!
Ala Mr. Jackson,
the Phở Bo ‘knows’ round steak and brisket in a hearty beef broth. The traditional Vietnamese soup is served with sliced onion, scallion, cilantro and is super delicious. Along with pretty generous chunks of meat and perfectly cooked noodles they’ve also got some fresh spring rolls and other apps that I’d come back for.
In addition they’re BYO making a pretty cheap night out whether you’re with a date or dining out by phở-​self.

I thought their phở was pretty good. The restaurant is a little small but very clean and has a simple atmosphere.
I went here with a groupon and was glad I bought it. I would definitely go again as their phở was reasonably priced and came in a giant bowl. I also tried their Vietnamese dessert on the menu. I had no idea what it was but the server recommended it and I’m glad he did. I’m still not sure what was in it but it was tasty and (tasted) authentic.

I don’t have anything bad to say about this place, but I also don’t have anything to say that makes it stand out.
The food was good, the prices were good. It’s byob, which I enjoy. The service was fine. The portions, other than the soup, are small. That’s where the inexpensive prices come from, I am guessing.
I wish I had something witty, interesting or exciting to say, but I don’t. Maybe see you again, Phở? Maybe not?

This is my all time favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Lakeview. The food is well proportioned — can feed up to 1.5/serving or a very hungry individual. The atmosphere is very modern — music, canvas painting/​printouts of their food, and a big tv that plays sports games, movies.etc. However, what had me coming back almost every week is there amazing Phở bo!!! Just sprinkle some Sriracha sauce and add the toppings and I’m off to heaven. Perfect for fall or sicks days. Phở is the new chicken noodle soup!
I Love you and miss you Phở & I !

Tom Yum vegetable thai soup was too sweet! How is that possible? Sugar shouldn’t be an ingredient in this heartwarming, gentle soup recipe. Truly disappointed in the execution of this telling dish. Another miss was the rice — why add the butter?! I might have been in my Christmas pants and flannel to make my order; however it was unnecessary to assault my taste buds (as I did to your eyes) with this awfully sweet starter dish. Leave your sugar and butter for baking! Yes, readers I give ZERO stars. I’d rather travel all the way to uptown’s Thai Aroma whilst saving $ 1.00 on my soup and rice.
(1 star by force in order to submit my review).

This place treated me like a bad hair day.
Literally.
Jokes are made that instead of being called «Phở and I» it should be called «Thai and I» get it? Cuz it’s heavy on Thai with hardly any Phở. I’d say maybe «Thai & I» or «Thai & Why?» I’m a rhymenocerous too.
If you asked me before yesterday I’d have given it 3 stars. I’ve had most apps and a few entrees via delivery. Many are ok, a friend hated it all, but by and large satisfactory.
But yesterday we had three apps and two entrees delivered and there was a prepondrance of hair in the items. HAIR in most of the food!
Get a dang hairnet if you shed over everything! And for that matter, if you can’t cook any food without it looking like Thai with a regurgitated hair ball garnish, invest in some Rogaine! You’ll thank me later and your customers won’t be sketched out by the results of your labor!

If it was on service I would give it 3.5÷5, but the food was mediocre at best. The phở chay was flavorless and oily, and the goi cuon was bland. Overall the experience was still enjoyable since we got to stay in the lincoln park area.

On a surprisingly warm October saturday evening I had the desire for Phở…
Me and my girl were taking a stroll down Broadway and decided this would be our dining destination. Was not crowded and there was outside seating. Outside dining area is small but there was only one table taken.
I went with the Phở Chay which is Vegetarian noodle soup with fresh tofu and assorted vegetables in vegetarian broth in a massive bowl. I added sriracha to give it an extra kick and it was very good and quite spicy. To my suprise, I finished the whole bowl (starving). Since my meal was hot, the nice severs kept the pitchers of water coming on a frequent basis.
When it gets cold, I know where I will be going… good stuff and not expensive!!!

So, it was FREEZING yesterday and I hadn’t found the time to eat more than a tangerine. Yes, it’s true. Sometimes I get so tunnel-​visioned in my work that I ignore the obvious pangs of hunger coming from my stomach and the delirium spinning ’round my brain. My nickname is ‘Calista.’ Anywhoo, hungry, cold… we’re caught up. Through a series of fortunate Unilocal events, I had phở on the brain. It was the perfect weather for it, but I didn’t feel like going all the way to Uptown to satisfy my desires.
Fast-​forward to the evening. I had picked up a friend and she and I needed food. I was headed to my neighborhood hot dog go-​to when I noticed a bright neon sign. «PHO…(and i).» It was a sign (literally). She’d never had Vietnamese before. I told her not to worry about it, it was my treat (I must have been hungry) and we were about to eat well. One of the workers saw us milling about and she ran outside to give us a menu. «No need,» I replied, «we’re coming in.» The worker told me that they’d just opened today and were trying to spread the word. I liked the space. It’s bright, minimal, byo, has a plasma flat-​screen and was playing that Lady Gaga song where she praises herself while sounding demonic («Ya Ya yayayaaaa… Ga Ga ayayaya… join my cult-ayaya…wear bubbles ayayaa…). So, in short, i loved it.
I also loved the selection. phở & i offers a variety of Vietnamese and Thai fare. Since my friend had never had Vietnamese before, I was set to order some phở and call it a night. As soon as I was about the order, I noticed the bun. A bun is not a ‘bun’; it’s rice vermicelli, lettuce, bean sprout, scallion, peanut and protein. Yes, please. The phở would wait. I needed some bun. One order of grilled chicken and a mango bubble tea later, we were at the door and back at my place.
Now, I don’t know whether it was because I was hungry, but I was really satisfied with the food. The chicken was well seasoned, the vegetables were fresh and crunchy and the noodles were well cooked. The only thing that was missing was chili sauce and that was my fault. I should have added some before I left — although I would have figured that they would have included some in my to-​go bag. I like you, phở & i. And, I really like my newfound ability to actualize my desires. Hmm, what else will I will into being? Mwa ha hahahayaa…