Madame Vo

We heard from friends that the food at this restaurant was great so we decided to stop there for lunch on one of our long walks. We went without a reservation and were able to get a table right away. It is a long deep restaurant. Kitchen area is on the right as you walk in. We ordered The Madam Vo and the Garlic Noodles. Both were excellent but the noodles was a bit too salty for my wife. Service was quick and friendly and the atmosphere is nice. By the time we finished, the restaurant was full. A busy place.

Everything we tried was yummy and comparable to my mom’s home cooking. This is the best Bun Bo Hue I’ve had in Manhattan (although that’s not saying much) and has a great level of spice with no super funky aftertaste. It was missing the traditional blood cube though which is admittedly my favorite part of BBH, and it would be great if they offered sa te sauce. Also the wings are crispy but the sauce is a bit on the sweeter versus spicy end. The Goi Buoi, Nem Nuong Cuon, Thit Kho, Bun bowl, snd sautéed green beans were on point!

Madame Vo has a great vibe — cozy, lively, and beautifully designed. The pho broth was flavorful and aromatic, and the short rib pho in particular was rich and satisfying. You can tell they care about presentation and quality. That said, it does feel a bit pricey for the portion size, and the flavors leaned slightly on the sweet side for my taste. Still, it’s a solid spot for comforting Vietnamese food in the city with great service and a fun energy.

Food was not bad but not authentic. I had the Bun Bo Hue and it didn’t have the blood cubes. The blood cubes is what makes the dish!!! Service was ok. Not personalized. When I asked which dish was more popular, they told me all…They didn’t ask us how the food was probably because they knew we weren’t that satisfied. It does still get four stars bc they did have then best beef shank I’ve ever had.

Bun bo hue was top notch. Very rich and fatty broth with well-cooked noodles and an appropriate amount of meat. Portion size was insane (could hardly finish it). I highly recommend over the pho because you know, pho is pho. Also, I'd recommend adding the huge shank and sharing with one or even two others.