At Pho 87, this hidden gem in Chinatown serves up giant, satisfying bowls of pho and crispy spring rolls in a delightfully quirky, no-frills setting.
"Bottom line: for ten dollars cash, including tip, you can get a very good bowl of pho. Although the significance of "87" remains unknown, their no-frills system leads to a consistently good bowl of pho every time. The decor is comically absurd, with faux marble pillars and a small fish pond under a large television, but it only makes the short wait for your meal more interesting." - Rubric
"Chinatown’s classic Vietnamese phở restaurant has everything required before a game. It’s available for day or evening game dining, where heaping, steaming bowls of spice-laden beef phở are ready for consumption, along with crispy egg rolls wrapped with lettuce and fresh herbs." - Matthew Kang, Mona Holmes
"In a neighborhood with no shortage of great phở options, this unassuming shop on Broadway still serves some of our favorite đặc biệt, fried spring rolls, and Vietnamese iced coffee around. Bowls (well, takeout containers now) overflow with vermicelli noodles, brisket, meatballs and fresh herbs, and rumor has it, their elixir-like broth can cure even the worst of hangovers. Not speaking from personal experience, of course. Call (323) 227-0758 for takeout and delivery. Cash only." - brant cox, kat hong
"LA’s beloved Pho 87 has gone through it in recent years. The longtime restaurant fought through decreased traffic during the early pandemic and started receiving massive gas bills from the city in 2023. In 2024, Pho 87 is still here and remains one of Chinatown’s best. If unsure of what to try, order the #20 pho with charbroiled pork in a gorgeous broth." - Mona Holmes
"Pho 87 always looks closed from the outside. This nondescript building in Chinatown has darkened windows and a grating over the front door that obscures the neon “open” sign. But once you realize it’s actually not shut down and get inside, you’ll find some excellent pho. The rare steak one in particular—which comes topped with a heap of fresh herbs—is a textbook example of how to do something simple and very, very well." - nikko duren, brant cox, garrett snyder, sylvio martins