Eat This Now: Chicken Pho at Nguyen Pho & Grill

Photo by Sarah Sipple

Nestled along the streetcar line in River Market is Nguyen Pho & Grill—a family-owned Vietnamese restaurant. The decor and atmosphere lean toward sparse, but the food speaks for itself.

This specific spot was runner-up for Best Pho in the 2024 Pitch Best of KC, but I first recall learning about it in a 2021 Pitch interview with now James Beard Award semifinalist Helen Jo Leach. Talk about strong recommendations.

For those who work/live downtown, or otherwise find themselves in need of a cost-effective weekday lunch, go here. $12.95 gets you your choice of pho and one appetizer.

One such pho and appetizer combo warmed me up on a brisk Tuesday evening. It wasn’t lunchtime, so I paid just a couple more dollars for a portion that wowed me, plus I added on a pot of jasmine tea.

As I waited for my fragrant tea to cool off, I dipped my vegetarian eggrolls into sweet and sour sauce. I was pleased by the absence of glass noodles (a personal preference) and by the crispy texture. As I contemplated ordering more of these cigar-sized goodies, the main course arrived.

The phở gà, or chicken pho, includes broccoli here. The thin and savory broth held a shocking amount of rice noodles, plus tender chicken pieces, deep green florets, and thin onion slices. Served on the side for pho customization is a generous portion of mung bean sprouts, Thai basil, lime, and jalapeno. 

A squeeze of the lime and a stir with the pepper slice brighten up the broth, which relies more on aromatics than salt for its comforting profile. Personally, I prefer more than the one jalapeno slice provided, and I enjoy eating the bean sprouts raw, one by one, with chopsticks. The fresh snap is a fun juxtaposition of texture. 

I skipped dessert on this visit and ordered another round of vegetarian eggrolls to-go. Did they survive the night? Nope. Don’t judge—It was my dessert

Nguyen Pho & Grill is located at 500 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64106.