Another wet and cold week has arrived in the Portland region. Enjoying a hot bowl of pho is one way to fight the darkness.
We asked you to share your favorite pho spots with us last week, and the top ten eateries are now nominees for The Oregonian’s Readers Choice Awards. Normally, voting for each award category lasts for a week, but we are adjusting the schedule because we have some days off work next week due to Thanksgiving. Thus, you will get two weeks to select your preferred pho.
Voting is available once daily until 11:59 p.m. at the link at the bottom of this post. December 3, 2024, Tuesday. The results will be made public on Friday, December 6 at atoregonlive.com/readers-choice.
Annam VL
Last year saw the opening of Annam VL, the newest eatery from the same family that gave Portland Ha VL and Rose VL. It serves daily-made small-batch soups on a rotating menu.
3336 S.E. Belmont St., Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or until sold out;Instagram photo by @annamvlpdxon
Butterfly Belly Asian Cuisine
This gluten-free eatery offers a range of Asian meals, including 11 phos, and creates all of its own sauces and flavoring bases. The chicken is cooked for 20 hours and the beef bone broth for 24 to 48 hours.
4:30–8:30 p.m. at 323 N.W. Park Ave. Monday through Thursday, 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Friday; butterflybellyme.com
Ha VL
When we evaluated the top 40 restaurants in Portland earlier this year, Ha VL, a dining mainstay for almost two decades, came in at number 10. It serves two or three soups a day on a changing menu, including one of the best, least known bowls of pho in the city.
Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; @havl.noodles on Instagram; 2738 S.E. 82nd Blvd #102
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Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen
Since its opening in 2012, this restaurant has been a well-liked lunch destination in the downtown area. According to Luc Lac’s menu, the five-spice beef broth is our grandmother’s secret recipe, and the pho is our pride and joy.
Daily hours: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4–11 p.m.; 835 S.W. 2nd Ave.; luclackitchen.com
Mekha
Mekha topped our 2017 ranking of Portland’s pho with thin, smooth, and properly cooked noodles and a sweet but not cloying broth.
Daily hours: 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; www.mekharestaurants.com; 6846 N.E. Sandy Blvd.
Pho Hung (Southeast 82nd Avenue)
Pho Hung, one of two distinct eateries bearing the same name that qualified for our final round, boasts a well-balanced soup that highlights the beef flavor.According to Michael Russell, our restaurant critic, it’s like a warm blanket on a chilly morning.
Daily hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Yelp.com/biz/pho-hung-Portland-3; 3120 SE 82nd Ave.
Pho Hung (Southeast Powell Boulevard)
According to one reader, the reason they adore Pho Hung on Powell is that it is a local pho landmark that has been offering hearty bowls of soup and Vietnamese culture since 1990. Sadly, a lot of neighborhood eateries have closed in recent years, but this one has made a concerted effort to remain stable in spite of inflation and other difficulties facing the restaurant business.
Powell Blvd., 4717 S.E., 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 1 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Wednesday and Friday. phohungrestaurantpowell.com; Saturday-Sunday
Pho Kim
Pho Kim offers a delicious and reasonably priced bowl of pho. The broth’s sweetness, spiciness, and beefiness are all well-balanced.When we ranked pho in 2017, we gave it honorable mention, and we appreciate that it offers a full menu in addition to pho.
Daily hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; phokimpdx.com; 2204 S.E. 82nd Ave.
The last time we ranked the finest pho in Portland, Pho Oregon came in at number three.Yao Long, Stephanie | The Oregonian
Pho Oregon
In 2017, Pho Oregon was our third-choice pick. Nicely cooked noodles, a well-rendered brisket, and a rustic-yet-elegant broth with tons of caramel flavor from the beef bones and a strong clove taste are all features of the pho.
9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. at 2518 N.E. 82nd Ave. Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Yelp.com/business/pho-oregon-restaurant-portland on Sunday
Thom Portland
When it first debuted in 2021, we called this eatery in Northeast Portland one of the greatest new establishments in the city. Try the pho bo, which has sliced beef still simmering in a glistening broth that is tempered with herbs and cloves, and delightfully slippery noodles.
Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 3039 N.E. Alberta St. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ten a.m. to six p.m. on Saturday. Sunday; love; thom
Vote here
Voting is open once day until 11:59 p.m. December 3, 2024, Tuesday. The results will be made public on Friday, December 6 at atoregonlive.com/readers-choice.
Mims Copeland is a social media producer who writes on popular subjects for OregonLive and The Oregonian. Her email address is [email protected].
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