About once a week, after a big night out we wake up with an insatiable craving for noodle soup. And when that moment hits, the place we go to most often is Tan My. 

They’re located in a pretty nondescript small strip mall near Ohlen and 183, in a spot we wish was harder to find. Because it gets busy. Show up for lunch on a Saturday and you’ll probably have to circle around a few times to find a parking spot, before adding your name to a long list to get seated at semi-communal tables. 

photo credit: Holly Dirks

There’s a pretty extensive list of Vietnamese specialties, with everything from spring rolls to stir-fried noodles, but noodle soups are what you should get here. The beef pho is among the best in town—and probably our recommendation for your first visit. But we usually find ourselves coming in for a bowl of bún bò Huế, with a fiery orange-red broth that’s bright, rich, and spicy, or the house special Hủ tíu, with a slightly sweeter pork bone broth. 

Whether you find yourself searching for broth on a rainy day, or wake up with an insatiable craving for noodle soup after a late night, Tan My is where you should probably be heading—you might even see us there in the back.

photo credit: Holly Dirks