University Avenue carries most of this list, and that is not an accident: this stretch of St. Paul holds the metro's deepest bench of pho houses, banh mi counters, and neighborhood standbys. The rooms below are graded on broth, portion, and consistency, not polish.
№ 01
Trieu Chau Restaurant
St. Paul $
500 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · +16512226148
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Clear, clean broth with a warm spice backbone sets this University Avenue room apart from the many pho counters nearby. Regulars single it out among a crowded strip as the bowl worth returning to, built on well-timed proteins rather than heavy seasoning. Spring rolls and banh mi round out a menu that stays focused. It is a St. Paul room, and University Avenue's pho density makes that focus count.
What to orderpho, banh mi, spring rolls
№ 02
Pho Ca Dao
St. Paul $
439 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · +16512224615
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A smaller St. Paul pho room that keeps its menu tight around the basics: broth, rice noodles, a short list of proteins. There is less flash here than at some of University Avenue's bigger operations, and that plainness is the point for diners who want a straightforward bowl without a long wait or a crowded dining room.
Saint Paul $
704 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN, 55104 · +16512258751
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Bun bo hue arrives in portions large enough to challenge the bowl, with wontons on the side and a version of Pho Tai that keeps families coming back for years. The St. Paul room runs on affordability and volume: generous meat, friendly counter service, and a menu built for repeat visits rather than one-time novelty.
What to orderPho Tai, Bun Bo Hue, Egg rolls
№ 04
eM Que Viet Restaurant and Bar
St. Paul $$
1332 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105 · +16513304363
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Cream cheese wontons and veggie egg rolls anchor a menu built for sharing, and the pad Thai holds up well enough to survive as leftovers. This St. Paul room handles groups comfortably, from bachelorette parties to a fast weeknight dinner for two, with service that keeps plates moving without rushing the table.
What to ordercream cheese wontons, veggie egg rolls, pad Thai
№ 05
Pho Pasteur
St. Paul $$
694 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55104 · +16517568562
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The oxtail pho and a strawberry smoothie with tapioca stand out on an extensive menu inside a St. Paul room roomy enough for large orders and side dishes. Spring rolls hold their own, and steak pho fans will find the same straightforward style served at other University Avenue rooms, just with more square footage to spread out in.
What to orderpho tai, spring rolls, strawberry smoothie with tapioca
№ 06
Eastside Thai Restaurant
St. Paul $
879 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130 · +16517766599
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Pad Thai and drunken noodles keep this East Side room in weekly rotation for its neighbors, backed by portions sized for leftovers. The catfish curry draws its own following. Street parking is easy and the greeting is quick. This St. Paul spot blends Thai and Hmong comfort cooking into one small, dependable menu.
What to orderpad Thai, drunken noodles, catfish curry
№ 07
I Heart Pho
St. Paul $
850 Maryland Ave E, Saint Paul, MN 55106 · +16516003724
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Fast service and a friendly counter define this small St. Paul room, where pho and banh mi arrive quickly at a fair price. Parking is limited given the size of the space. The banh mi has drawn mixed marks on seasoning, but the menu overlaps closely with other pho and banh mi rooms nearby, with staff warmth as the differentiator.
What to orderpho, banh mi, spring rolls
№ 08
Hoa Bien Restaurant
St. Paul $
1105 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104 · +16516471011
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Pho dac biet loaded with tendon, tripe, brisket, meatballs, and sliced beef makes this University Avenue room a steady draw for St. Paul regulars. Service greets diners immediately and rarely disappoints on return visits. The banh mi and spring rolls round out a menu built for frequent, uncomplicated pho cravings rather than experimentation.
What to orderpho dac biet, banh mi, spring rolls
№ 09
Vina | Vietnamese Restaurant
St. Paul $$
756 Cleveland Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116 · +16516988408
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Rice noodle salad portions run large enough to carry into next day's lunch, and the banh mi holds its own alongside a well built pho. This St. Paul room draws groups on the strength of attentive, well paced service. Vegetable sides ordered for takeout have drawn complaints, so dine-in is the safer route here.
What to orderrice noodle salad, banh mi, pho
№ 10
China Chef Restaurant
St. Paul $
2240 Highway 36 E, Saint Paul, MN 55109 · +16517779790
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Despite its Chinese menu heading, this St. Paul neighborhood spot has built a following on its pho, alongside a hot and sour soup that regulars call well balanced and chow mein that rounds out the order. Small and owner-run, it functions as a reliable stop for diners who value consistency over specialization.
What to orderpho, hot and sour soup, chow mein
№ 11
Tay Ho
St. Paul $$
302 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · +16512287216
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Beef pho and bun bo hue share billing with a coffee program strong enough to earn its own mentions, inside a strip-mall room easy to miss on University Avenue. Delivery orders have landed as solid without being remarkable, while regulars treat it as a dependable weekday stop, especially when other pho rooms nearby are closed.
What to orderbeef pho, bun bo hue, banh mi
№ 12
IndoChin Vietnamese Restaurant
St. Paul $
1702 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105 · +16516902728
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Chicken hotpot and drunken noodles keep regulars looping back on an elaborate St. Paul menu that covers more ground than most pho-focused competitors nearby. The tofu noodle salad works well as a lighter lunch option. Convenient for takeout and easy to overlook from the street, it rewards diners who make the stop.
What to orderchicken hotpot, drunken noodles, tofu noodle salad
Frequently asked
What is the best Vietnamese restaurant near me in St. Paul?
It depends on the neighborhood: University Avenue holds the highest concentration of strong pho and banh mi rooms in this guide, including Trieu Chau, Hoa Bien, and Tay Ho. Each entry here carries an Insider Score based on the public review record, and no restaurant pays to be listed.
Which St. Paul pho spot has the largest portions?
iPho by Saigon and Pho Pasteur both draw repeat mentions for generous bowl sizes, and Vina's rice noodle salad regularly leaves enough for a next-day lunch. Portion size is one factor among several in each restaurant's Insider Score, alongside consistency and value.
Are any of these restaurants in Minneapolis instead of St. Paul?
No. Every restaurant on this list operates in St. Paul, most along or near University Avenue. Minneapolis and St. Paul are separate cities with separate dining scenes, and this guide keeps that distinction accurate throughout.
How is the Insider Score calculated for these listings?
The Insider Score comes from an analysis of the public review record for each restaurant: consistency of the food, service patterns, and value over time. No restaurant pays for placement or for a higher score, and the ranking reflects the record as it stands, not advertising.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Kou Thao
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Kou Thao is the St. Paul & Corridors Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born in St. Paul and raised in Frogtown, he grew up working the family egg-roll stand at Hmongtown Marketplace. He covers the marketplaces, University Avenue, the East Side and West Side, and every corridor counter worth the trip across the river.
