Declaring a favorite ramen restaurant might get you murdered these days. That's why you should make yourself familiar with Tank Noodle, so you can quickly transition any discussion about hot bowls of noodle soups to pho.
The stretch of Broadway in Uptown near the Argyle red line stop has been a stronghold of Vietnamese restaurants since the 1970's, and Tank Noodle is one of the family-run staple spots. With the exception of a few bubble tea posters, the generic white walls and fluorescent lights make Tank Noodle look like a doctor’s office waiting room. But despite that horrible imagery, it’s actually a comfortable place to sit and eat an easy meal - partially because it’s always crowded, and partially because of the friendly staff.
A pho craving is usually why we go, but don't feel limited if you want to try other things. The menu is massive, a legit book with different pages dedicated to appetizers, banh mi sandwiches, congee, pho, noodles, rice dishes, and more. The decent English translations allow you to order anything that sounds good, but it's never a bad idea to double check your order with the staff. They'll help steer you in the right direction if you accidentally order an item not meant for the uninitiated with Vietnamese food.
But if you're like us, one trip to Tank Noodle and you'll quickly realize you will be back to learn more.
Food Rundown
If you're looking for an appetizer, we recommend spring rolls. The shrimp version wrapped with noodles, lettuce, mint, chives, and bean sprouts is light and tastes great.
Pho is where it's at. The classic Tank Noodle version is served with well done brisket, flank, tendon, tripe, and a meat ball. Don't let the tripe scare you, and make sure to get the bean sprouts, jalapeños, and hot sauces on the table involved.
Pretty standard banh mi with marinated beef, cucumbers, cilantro, jalapeño, carrots, radishes, and green onion. They're really cheap and a great value if you're on a budget.
Congee is a rice porridge and we're big fans. The pho bowls are big and easily shareable, so consider sharing a pho and a congee with someone else if it's possible. We like the duck congee with garlic pork oil, onion, cilantro, and ginger fish sauce.
A great vermicelli noodle dish with sliced marinated pork, vegetables, and peanuts. We know we said come for the pho, but you really can't go wrong.
If you want to get after a mishmash of stuff, this combination rice dish is great. A simmered jumbo prawn, grilled pork chop, sunny side egg, chinese sausage, and rice. The prawn comes in a unique but excellent sauce, so make sure to mix it with the rice.
