05/04/09

The Best Phó in Minneapolis, hands down.

by hoimang

PTB is my favorite restaurant at which to eat. This was firmly solidified today(they are closed on Mondays) and I took my phó at Phó 79, which can't hold a candle to the light, flavorful broth at PTB. I work from home, and I go to PTB to read the paper, enjoy a glass of iced tea, and the best phó in town.

True to an authentic phó joint, the staff here never brings you a bill:the tables are numbered. It is considered rude to bring a bill as it makes the diner feel rushed. I eat in here 2-3 times a week, and my wife and I get spring rolls and Bun Thit Heo (grilled pork noodle salad) nearly every Sunday. Most of the staff knows that I don't need a menu, and within minutes of sitting down my food is served.

The building is a little frumpy, but the service and quality of the food make this place a must for everyone who loves fresh Vietnamese food. It is right behind the Kmart just north of Lake Street on the other side of the Midtown Greenway.

• Pros: Huge portions, friendly service, authentic food
• Cons: It is easy to miss if you don't know where it is

02/16/08

PTB is BEST Viet's Place for Pho and Desserts!

by mhuang1

I have lived in the Twin Cities all of my life after arriving from Vietnam over 29+ years ago and it took me over 20+ years of eating at average to above average Asian restaurants to find the Golden Nugget of Authentic Vietnamese Cuisines on Eat Street! The first time my cousin Marc brought me there after work, I was impressed with their pho AND desserts! Alot of Viet's places have almost as good pho, but PTB (All of my White friends fond moniker for this place) has delightful delicious desserts as well! I love the Cha Thai, the bean desserts, and unlike some cheap Asian places, PTB gives ample portions because after all I may be Vietnamese by heritage, I eat like a large American!...PTB = Best Place for Viet's cuisines!...Oh, and plenty of free parking! No need to be an expert parallel parker, which I am not one, not with my half ton truck! Love this place Alot!..Every White, Black, Asian friends I've brought here LOVE THIS PLACE! I go every Saturday when I'm not working...Like right now, my girlfriend and I are heading there for an early lunch!

• Pros: Best Pho and Desserts
• Cons: Some Wait Staff don't speak enough English

05/04/07

Best Pho in Minnepolis

by nenechan

I've been up and down Eat Street (Nicollet Ave. between 15th St. thru Lake St.) Looking for a good bowl of pho and a couple of years ago, I settled on this place. I grew up in Hawaii where there are a plethora of awesome Vietnamese places and the pho here is as close as what I've had in Hawaii --- a rich beefy oxtail stock, fresh sliced beef (raw thin slices which cooks in the heat of the soup), tender brisket, savory firm meatballs, and for the adventurous --- fresh tripe and fresh tendons. This particular pho combination is menu item #1, the Pho Tau Bay Dac Biet, or the Pho Tau Bay Special pho and it is my favorite item on their menu. You can get many different combinations of meat on the menu, the fresh beef, brisket, meatballs, chicken (pho ga), seafoods and yes --- raw tendon and/or tripe. No matter how you get it, the pho is always accompanied by a platter of fresh bean sprouts, sprigs of Thai basil, sliced jalepenos and wedges of lime. Just grab a handful of sprouts and toss them in, tear your basil into little pieces over the pho, and if you like, drop a slice or 2 of jalepeno in and give a little squeeze a lime. These guys know how to juxtapose the richness of the stock with the vibrant freshness the sprouts and sweet herb of the basil. I've had pho at other places that was too clear, like a consomme, rather than the hearty silky stock Pho Tau Bay makes.

Also delicious is their goi con (fresh spring roll), a clear rice wrapper filled with rice noodles, char siu pork, shrimp halves and Thai basil. And the banh mi (french bread sandwich), which is delicious made with the grilled pork (a steal at $3!).Their meat is marinated with a lot of oil so it is a touch greasier than a place like Jasmine Deli, but sometimes that's more appealing to me than my food being totally greaseless.

There is one standout waiter. He is a handsome young man who's very personable, he could serve at any of the fancier places with very little polishing. Otherwise, the staff is nice.

• Pros: Best pho MPLS, Fast friendly service, Inexpensive Lots of free parking
• Cons: Most wait staff not used to serving at an American restaurant, Not a cute place

Inexpensive and authentic Vietnamese specialties.

by Contributor

In Short
This Vietnamese eatery housed in the somewhat dowdy remains of a pancake house offers a wide variety of meat and seafood-enhanced noodle bowls and soups, along with a good selection of appetizers, including steamed buns and spring rolls. Two things of note about the ambience: the place is popular with local immigrants; and the focal point is a big-screen TV, where you can see Chinese films dubbed into Vietnamese.

10/10/05

Try it, you'll like it

by stpauligirl

Every person I've brought to Pho Tau Bay has liked it. My personal favorites are the vermicelli rice noodle salads (bun, on the menu). I also recommend the broken rice platters and pho. Try the wontons and spring rolls too. The portion sizes and prices make this restaurant a great value. If you've only been to Quang's you're missing out!

• Pros: food arrives quickly, inexpensive, authentic

09/21/03

Very Tasty

by daveandjeanne

This is a very homey-type place. Not a fancy place but very comfortable and easy to be there.

Teh Bun bo Hue was excellent. My mother had it as well and we lapped it up.

The Spring rolls are the best I've had and the Pennywort was a real treat. 4 of us dined with tea, spring rolls and entree for $36.50.

We'll be back!

• Pros: quality of food, quantity, welcomed
• Cons: a little noisy

08/12/03

Good Food

by kiddy_vangsta

They have a huge variety of Pho. Their food is great, the place is wonderful.

• Pros: Great Parking, Inexpensive

05/24/03

More MSP Places Like PTB Please!

by mnbhoy

Authentic - that's the best word to describe Pho Tau Bay. Don't go for the decor or a quick stroll down Nicollet Ave after dinner. But if you're looking for the freshest spring rolls ever, tasty soups containing tripe/brisket/shrimp, and not too spicy entrees then this place is a must. English is definitely a second language here so be patient with the very friendly and helpful wait staff. Ask for their suggestions - they won't steer you wrong. The value is phenominal - dinner for two with appetizers, large soup, large entree and multiple sodas was under $30. I wish there were authentic, ethnic places like Pho Tau Bay in the suburbs!!!!

• Pros: Authentic Food, Best Spring Rolls!!!, Helpful Staff / VALUE
• Cons: Decor/Location, BOTH NOT BAD ENOUGH, TO NOT COME BACK!!