Cafe Hoang

After having tried many spots on Argyle over the years, this is best place. The service is attentive. The food authentic. The portions substantial. The prices reasonable. It's a large place, so it may not seem crowed; but the customer flow is very steady and discerning. The only drawback is that the menu is a bit limited - mostly pho/soup and rice dishes. Not a lot of simple stir fry. But . . . it's the best.

I just randomly walked in and like a zombie, ordered some random food but when I tasted the food that I was indeed well pleased didn't make me rate this restaurant 4 starts, I am because I'm remembering how each time I looked up, they were there ready to serve and making sure that I'm happy. It was well worth the buy.

One of the best places for Bun Bo Hue, a favorite Vietnamese soup containing rice vermicelli and beef in Chicago. The broth was authentically made with simmered beef and pork bones for many hours and lemongrass. The bowl included thin slices of marinated and boiled beef shank, chunks of oxtail, pig's knuckles, and cubes of congealed pig blood, which has a color between dark brown and maroon, and a texture resembling firm tofu. The restaurant had plenty of space inside, and the service is fine. I usually found free parking spots on the roads nearby.

I ordered the #23 - Bun Thit Nuong, a vermicelli noodle dish with grilled pork and shrimp on skewers, spring roll, and fresh herbs. To eat it, you pour the sweet tangy sauce into the bowl and mix them all up. This is my first time trying this popular Vietnamese dish and I must say I liked it a lot. You have your crunchy bits, barbecued flavors, different aromas, and clean tastes of the vermicelli noodle in a single bowl. I'm also a big fan of their spicy pork and shrimp salad. It had very strong flavors helped by a ton of fresh herbs, fish sauce, and spicy chilli. Can't wait to return next time to try their famous Bun Bo Hue.

Definitely 5 stars. The best bun bo hue I ever tried. This is what heals me on hangovers.