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The 5 Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Indianapolis for Your Next Pho Fix

best-vietnamese-restaurants-indianapolis
We extensively test and research all services we review. Here's why you can trust us.
  • Service Range: We looked for menus boasting a wide variety of traditional Vietnamese dishes to ensure there’s something for everyone. This includes everything from classic pho and banh mi to comforting rice plates and vegetarian options.
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  • Authenticity: We prioritized spots that stay true to their cultural roots through traditional recipes and accurate preparation methods. The use of culturally proper, locally sourced ingredients was a massive deciding factor for us during this process.
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  • Location and Accessibility: A great meal shouldn’t require a stressful commute, so we heavily evaluated how easy these spots are to reach. We focused on establishments located in popular, highly accessible districts around the city to accommodate both tourists and locals.
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  • Ambience and Dining Experience: The atmosphere of a dining room can make or break an evening out. We sought out comfortable, welcoming settings that easily host families, large friend groups, and even casual business meetings.
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  • Reputation and Reviews: Word of mouth truly matters, so we heavily factored in overall community consensus and established customer feedback. Only restaurants maintaining a strong, consistent reputation for high food quality made our final cut.

Craving a steaming, aromatic bowl of pho that hits right at the soul? You aren’t alone. As a massive foodie who loves slurp-worthy noodles and crispy banh mi, I’m always on the hunt for the ultimate umami bomb. 

Whether you’re a local food enthusiast or a tourist, the search for the best Vietnamese restaurants in Indianapolis ends here. I’ve scoured the city’s vibrant dining scene to bring you the top spots where authentic herbs and rich meats reign supreme. 

And if you’re interested in trying other Asian cuisines, check out the top Japanese restaurants and Indian restaurants in the area as well. 

How Much Does a Meal at a Vietnamese Restaurant Cost in Indianapolis?

You can generally expect to spend between $15 and $25 per person for a satisfying meal featuring a hearty main dish and a refreshing beverage at a Vietnamese restaurant in Indianapolis.

Item CategoryPrice Range
Appetizers$5 – $9
Pho & Noodle Soups$12 – $15
Specialty Pho$20 – $27
Banh Mi$8 – $11
Rice & Vermicelli Bowls$12 – $16
Beverages$6 – $10

1. What The Phở

what-the-pho

Website: http://indypho.com/

Address: 7280 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268

Contact: 317-298-9001

Hours: Mon – Sat: 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM

Stepping into What The Phở immediately surrounds you with the intoxicating aroma of star anise and simmering bone broth. As someone who appreciates a hearty serving, I love that their menu effortlessly marries classic Southeast Asian noodle soups with familiar Chinese culinary staples. Honestly, it’s the perfect spot when your group can’t agree on what to eat.

I recently grabbed a quick lunch here with a friend, and the kitchen whipped up our orders so rapidly that we barely had time to catch up before the massive, herb-packed bowls arrived. They are exceptionally generous with their portions, making it a fantastic value for anyone craving a serious noodle pull.

Plus, if you lean plant-based, they have an impressive spread of clearly labeled vegetarian options that don’t skimp on flavor. 

The only downside is that the fast-paced, bustling environment is definitely geared toward a quick bite rather than a lingering sit-down experience.

Pros

  • Generous portion sizes
  • Varied plant-based options
  • Extremely rapid service
  • Fresh, aromatic broth herbs

Cons

  • Not ideal for formal dining

Customer Reviews:

Stopped by for a quick mid week lunch. Place is clean with spacious seating. Staff is friendly and quick. Ordered a Vietnamese pancake which was huge and delicious. Will be back to try their pho.

Michelle | Google Review

What The Pho not only has a clever name, but amazing food, staff and service! Spring rolls are always fresh and so is the pho! 10/10 recommend, check them out and get a nice yummy bowl!

Julie Vujnovich | Google Review

2. Pho Tasty

pho-tasty

Website: https://photasty.weebly.com/

Address: 6044 East 82nd St., Indianapolis, IN 46250

Contact: 317-436-7071

Hours: Tue – Sat: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Sun: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Nothing cures a rainy afternoon quite like a massive, steaming bowl of comfort food, and Pho Tasty absolutely delivers on that front. This bright, cozy cafe specializes in famously large servings of classic noodle soups that will easily satisfy your biggest cravings. The moment you dunk your spoon into their deeply flavored broth, you will understand exactly why the locals are so fiercely loyal.

I’m always on the lookout for a pleasant space to unwind, and their inviting interior makes it incredibly easy to kick back and enjoy every single bite. 

If you want to mix things up, their traditional appetizers, especially those crispy, savory pancakes, are utterly addictive.

The only real hiccup you might encounter is the parking situation. Because it’s tucked inside a bustling retail strip, snagging a spot during peak dining hours can be a headache, so plan your visit accordingly.

Pros

  • Exceptionally large serving sizes
  • Consistent, flavorful broth
  • Great traditional appetizers
  • Bright, inviting interior space

Cons

  • Crowded parking during peaks

Customer Reviews:

Best tofu bahn mi of my life. I used to live in an area with a large Vietnamese population and this bahn mi was by far the superior specimen plenty of tofu awesome balance of flavors delicious bread, served warm. it even has a vegan brown eel sauce that is so tasty. The lemongrass tofu bûn is also a+. way too good for a strip mall, we are so lucky

Chessa Rae | Google Review

Is a little hole in the wall but you can tell the food is authentic. It was flavorful and fresh. The waiter was patient and explained the menu!

We had the shrimp pho, shrimp fried rice, shrimp mini pancakes (got it without the pork). The drinks are Thai tea and Peach Boboa Tea.

Ria Ria | Google Review

3. Pho 21

pho-21

Website: https://www.pho21indy.com/

Address: 8134 East 21st Street, Indianapolis, IN 46219

Contact: 317-438-5353

Hours: Tue – Fri: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM; Sat: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM; Sun: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM

For parents wrangling kids for dinner, finding a spot that keeps everyone entertained is a huge win. Pho 21 delivers a highly family-oriented dining environment that brilliantly pairs traditional Vietnamese meals with fun, in-house entertainment like air hockey and ping pong. 

Arriving is completely hassle-free thanks to their massive, free parking area, which sets a relaxed tone before you even walk through the doors.

Their daily mid-afternoon closure during the week guarantees that the evening dinner rush is met with freshly prepared ingredients. Furthermore, they thoughtfully provide clearly designated plant-based dishes for specific dietary needs.

Just keep in mind that they’re pretty traditional when it comes to getting your food. They strictly limit orders to dine-in and standard carryout, opting out of third-party delivery apps entirely, meaning you can’t get these dishes dashed to your doorstep.

Pros

  • Interactive games for kids
  • Large, free parking area
  • Clear plant-based menu options
  • Freshly prepped dinner ingredients

Cons

  • No third-party delivery options

Customer Reviews:

Might be one of the best Vietnamese restaurants I’ve had. Ingredients were super freshly. Egg rolls were just wow, crispy & flavorful yet not greasy. Noodle soup was very hearty, could be a little bit spicer for my taste but the table side chili oil (delish!) does the trick just fine. Fast and friend service.

Joan Z | Google Review

The phở broth was very clear and good. The meat in the broken rice plate and the skewer appetizers were cooked and seasoned perfectly. The Vietnamese coffee wasn’t served with drip like some other places do, but it was still very strong and sweet.

Delaney Parsons (Laney) | Google Review

4. Pho Saigon

pho-saigon

Website: https://phosaigonindianapolis.com/

Address: 4760 W 38th St, Indianapolis, IN 46254

Contact: 317-927-7270

Hours: Daily: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Craving the vibrant, punchy flavors of Southeast Asia but only have a short lunch break? Pho Saigon translates the complex tastes of street food into a streamlined and fast-casual dining format. Because service is designed specifically for speed, you can fuel up and get back to your day without missing a beat.

A colleague of mine swears by their quick turnaround time, noting that the highly experienced chefs never compromise on those authentic, home-style tastes despite the rapid pace. 

I love that their daily operating hours feature zero closures, making it a reliable option whenever hunger strikes.

Plus, the menu structure allows you to tweak your bowl exactly to your liking. 

However, because of this fast-casual approach, you will not find the latest elaborate, time-intensive regional dishes here that you might see at other specialty dining spots.

Pros

  • Reliable daily operating hours
  • Experienced, authentic cooking staff
  • Highly customizable menu options
  • Exceptionally fast service

Cons

  • Lacks time-intensive dishes

Customer Reviews:

I’ve been to several pho spots here in Indy—hands down this is the BEST spot to go to! I love their pho , it’s amazing and the flavor is amazing. The workers are always very pleasant and I always get sat right away. I usually dine solo; Worth it every time!

Ashley V. | Google Review

Pros: – nice atmosphere, very polite servant

– the order was ready pretty fast (we only had to wait around 10 minutes)

– very delicious food (we had pho beef & meatballs, bun bo Hue, Ngo sen salad for 2 people)

– 1 meal per person is more than enough to get full

Cons: I wanted to order everything on the menu but I couldn’t cause I can’t eat all of them

P.S 20% mandatory tip is included in the bill. Total cost for 1 meal for me was $15.54 with the tip and tax.

Vasilina Vikhareva | Google Review

5. Eating Fresh

eating-fresh

Website: https://eating-fresh.com/

Address: 6255 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220

Contact: 317-746-6989

Hours: Sun: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Mon: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Tue: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Wed: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Thu: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Fri: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Sat: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Elevating a standard bowl of noodles into an unforgettable culinary journey is no small feat, yet Eating Fresh pulls it off beautifully. This upscale spot creatively reimagines the noodle soup experience by incorporating a painstaking 40-hour bone broth and luxurious ingredients like A5 Japanese Wagyu. 

For those looking to make dinner an event, they offer an interactive tabletop barbecue and hot pot setup that’s incredibly fun for groups.

They strictly prioritize locally grown produce free from preservatives, ensuring every bite is as vibrant as it is delicious. If you want the ultimate treat, their specialized chef tasting menu is a fantastic way to explore their diverse offerings.

Naturally, the inclusion of premium ingredients and elaborate chef-curated experiences means this restaurant carries a notably steeper price point. It will cost significantly more here compared to your standard neighborhood noodle shop.

Pros

  • Rich 40-hour bone broth
  • Interactive tabletop barbecue
  • Specialized chef tasting menu
  • Preservative-free, local produce

Cons

  • Steeper price point

Customer Reviews:

I am Vietnamese and I must say, this is the best Vietnamese restaurant in town. The flavor is authentic and top notch. Their pate and grilled pork are delicious! All ingredients including veggies and side dishes are FRESH! Most importantly, the sauce—the heart and soul of Vietnamese cuisine, is unbeatable. Overall, if anyone asks me where to try Viet food in Indy, Eating Fresh will make top of the list

Như Quỳnh | Google Review

I was feeling tired and very worn down, needing a hot broth with fresh herbs, so obviously pho was my first choice. Came here, got the Short Rib Pho with a pot of green tea. I swear, I felt immediately better. The broth was rich yet light. The short rib was delicious, and it was overall exactly what I needed.

Jenni Dyess | Google Review