Pho, a traditional Vietnamese soup, has recently seen an incredible rise in popularity across the United States.
What was once a relatively niche dish has become a mainstream favorite and beloved for its warm, aromatic broth, tender noodles and customizable ingredients.
Unsurprisingly, Midtown Noodles Bar —located in the Lake Ella Plaza— has become a local staple for pho lovers like myself.
At Midtown Noodles Bar, the star of the show is undeniably the pho. I often gravitate toward shrimp pho. When you order a bowl, the experience starts when the waitress brings the steaming hot bowl of broth and noodles to the table. The noodles are perfectly cooked, but the real fun begins when you customize the dish by adding the remaining ingredients. The bowl comes with various accompaniments: jalapeños, lime wedges, soy sauce, bean sprouts, sliced chiles, hoisin sauce, sriracha and fresh herbs like basil and mint.
I’ve learned through repeated visits that the bean sprouts should be the first thing you toss in. This isn’t just a suggestion — it’s a mandatory step. Adding them first allows the heat of the broth to soften them up by the time you’re ready to dig in. It’s a small detail, but it enhances the overall experience.
Once the sprouts are in, I usually add the other ingredients, adjusting the heat level with a squeeze of lime, a touch of soy sauce and a dash of hoisin and sriracha. The pho is flavorful and satisfying, with tender shrimp and a rich broth that never feels too greasy or salty, just a perfect balance of umami.
Sometimes, I’ll throw in a few slices of steak for added richness, though the shrimp alone is usually enough to keep me coming back.
When I’m there with my friend Imani, she typically orders crab rangoon and dumplings to start. Now, I’ve got to admit, I’m not much of a fan of the crab rangoon. The filling is heavy on the cream cheese, and the exterior doesn’t do it for me. I find it a bit too rich for my taste.
On the other hand, the dumplings have a strange texture that I can’t quite get into, but the fried dumplings? Those are a different story — crispy on the outside, perfectly tender on the inside, and a great accompaniment to the pho. I reach for those fried dumplings whenever I’m in the mood for something crunchy and satisfying.
Midtown Noodles Bar also offers spring rolls, which are decent but not remarkable, especially when you consider the price. They’re a light option, filled with fresh vegetables, but they don’t quite measure up to the other dishes on the menu.
If you’re looking for a hearty appetizer, I’d recommend skipping the spring rolls in favor of the fried dumplings or perhaps trying something else from the extensive menu.
With the care and attention to detail they put into their pho, I’m eager to see how their ramen measures up.