Ngon Bistro (pronounced “nong”) is a modern Vietnamese restaurant that specializes in providing French-Vietnamese food using fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients. According to NgonBistro.com, the interior of Ngon Bistro has “a full bar that focuses exclusively on Minnesota craft beers and a full line of craft spirits & cocktails.”
We went to Ngon Bistro on Friday, November 20, 2015 at 7:00 PM. When we got there, it was very busy and nearly all the tables were full. If you plan to go eat at this restaurant on a Friday night or during the busy hours, I recommend that you reserve a table. Especially when you have more than four people.
The atmosphere of Ngon Bistro has a warm feeling to it and its interior is lit with a combination of artificial lightings and candles. This restaurant has an impressive wine and beer list and good service. Furthermore, the employees are well-dressed and polite. When we were there, it was very busy so the service was slower than average.
Ngon Bistro’s pho dishes are slowly crafted from natural grass-fed oxtail and bones and premium spices. Their main pho dishes are oxtail, organic chicken, ribeye, duck, and seafood. Like most restaurants that serve pho, Ngon Bistro does not have veggie pho.
The flavor of their oxtail pho was delicious. It was soothing and well-seasoned and salted to near perfection. Some of the people in our group drank nearly all of their broth. The broth for the oxtail pho is one of the best pho broths that I have tasted. The noodles were great too.
Unfortunately, Ngon Bistro does not include basil in the side dish for their pho. The night we were there, they only gave us bean sprouts, jalapenos, lime, and hoisin sauce. I am sure they have basil so if you want it, you may need to ask them to include it in the side dish. When you add basil to pho, it gives the pho an aromatic scent and flavor.
Unlike most restaurants that serve pho, Ngon Bistro does not have sriracha and soy sauce on the table, so if you want them, you need to let the server know.
Ngon Bistro’s pho dishes are more expensive than average. Most normal size pho dishes usually cost about $8.00. The pho dishes at Ngon Bistro cost roughly $12.00. The higher cost is due to certain natural and organic ingredients.
I Luv Pho recommends Ngon Bistro.
Pho Luver Ratings
- Beef pho: 4.6/5 (7 raters)
- Chicken pho: 5/5 (1 rater)
- Seafood pho: 4/5 (1 rater)
- Duck pho: 3/5 (1 rater)
Address and Hours of Operation
799 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN
Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Hours of operation can change at anytime and may be different during the holidays. To confirm if the hours are correct, call Ngon Bistro at this number (651) 222-3301.
To learn more about Ngon Bistro or to look at their menu, visit NgonBistro.com.
Comments from I Luv Pho Members or Supporters
Here are some comments from the people who showed up to our pho meetup at Ngon Bistro:
Broth was great. Everything served was great. Missed some condiments, needed a little more spice. – Meng
The broth was okay, very little condiments. – Suzzy
Loved the chicken pho. – Pam
Very good broth. Pretty busy place on Friday night but worth the wait. – Kou
Pho was great! Very non-traditional condiments. No sriracha, no chili paste, and no fish sauce. – Pheng
Excellent broth, decent portion of meat. – David
Best broth I have ever had! Would like some basil or mint but definitely no complaints. Best pho I have ever had! So far… – Anthony
Absolutely wonderful. Hot sauce was a great addition. Best pho I have ever tasted. – Randi
I LUV PHO 