Pho Thien Vietnamese Kitchen
NapervilleFood Editor
Local team review
The banh mi thit nuong is the sandwich I think about at least once a week: grilled lemongrass pork on a baguette so crispy it shatters, with pickled daikon and jalapeno providing crunch and heat in perfect proportion. The bun bo Hue — spicy Central Vietnamese noodle soup with lemongrass and shrimp paste — is the order for anyone who finds regular pho too mild. Prices here are almost absurdly fair for the quality, and the portions are generous enough to make lunch stretch into an early dinner. The modest storefront gives nothing away, which is exactly why it feels like a discovery every time.
About the Restaurant
Pho Thien doesn't announce itself loudly, the modest South Naperville storefront gives nothing away, but the pho inside tells the whole story. The broth is simmered for 12+ hours with charred onion, star anise, and beef bones until it reaches the kind of clarity and depth that separates real pho from imitations. The banh mi are built on proper baguettes with the right crunch-to-softness ratio, and the vermicelli bowls offer a lighter alternative on warm days. It's the kind of place that earns its 4.6 rating one bowl at a time.
Insider Tip
The special combination pho with rare steak, brisket, and tendon is the order, the tendon adds a silky richness that transforms the bowl.
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Hours
Details
931 W 75th St, Ste 177, South Naperville
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