This casual neighborhood gem serves a mouthwatering array of Vietnamese dishes and bubble teas in a cozy atmosphere, perfect for a satisfying meal.
"The stretch of Broadway in Uptown near the Argyle red line stop has been a stronghold of Vietnamese restaurants since the 1970s, and Tank Noodle is one of the staple spots. With the exception of a few bubble tea posters, white walls and fluorescent lights make Tank Noodle look a little like a doctor’s office waiting room. But it’s actually a comfortable place to sit and eat a casual meal. A pho craving is usually why we go, but there are plenty of other things to try. The menu is massive, a legit book with different pages dedicated to appetizers, banh mi sandwiches, congee, pho, noodles, rice dishes, and more. Food Rundown #7B Fresh Spring Roll With Shrimp 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. #40 Combination Pho With Sliced Beef Pho is where it’s at. The classic Tank Noodle version is served with well done brisket, flank, tendon, tripe, and a meat ball. Make sure to get the bean sprouts, jalapeños, and hot sauces on the table involved. #24 Grilled Marinated Beef Sandwich Pretty standard banh mi with marinated beef, cucumbers, cilantro, jalapeño, carrots, radishes, and green onion. A great value if you’re on a budget. #36 Duck Congee 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. #89 Grilled Pork Vermicelli 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. #107 Special Tank Combination Rice Dish 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 an excellent sauce, so make sure to mix it with the rice." - Sam Faye
"Tank Noodle is a popular spot for Vietnamese food in Uptown. There’s an extensive menu that will make you want to order a lot, and it’s all good. Get everything from pho bowls, congee, and rice dishes to banh mi." - adrian kane, courtney sprewer, veda kilaru, john ringor
"Tank Noodle in Little Vietnam has friendly service and very tasty Vietnamese food. There’s an extensive menu, but the combination pho with sliced beef is the best thing here. Get a bowl of that along with some spring rolls." - adrian kane
"If ramen is the current craze, then pho is a lifestyle. While everyone else is zigging arguing about the best place to grab ramen, you need to zag and head to Uptown for Tank Noodle's pho. When it's extra cold, we prefer the extra large pho combination that comes with a whole mess of meats. On top of the large bowl of broth, noodles, and meat, mix things up with a bit of congee, a hearty rice porridge you can get with your choice of meats and seafood." - sam faye
"In Chicago, the events in Washington D.C. quickly turned into a local story as social media posts surfaced showing the owners of Tank Noodle, one of the city’s best-known Vietnamese restaurants, on a plane to the capital with the intention of joining protests opposing Donald Trump’s Election Day defeat." - Naomi Waxman