Lac Viet

So Lac Viet has a cart that frequents Neil/​11^th near the OSU medical center during lunch hours. This review is partially based on the cart, and partially based on the brick and mortar location on Bethel road.
In college, oddly enough, most of my friends were Vietnamese. I am a phở connoisseur of sorts. I have even made it several times (the secret is MSG). Moving to Columbus from LA, I was worried that I would not be able to find good phở here (By the way, you can’t really find good phở in LA either — ESPECIALLY not west LA, you have to drive to orange county for the most part though there are some good places scattered throughout socal and not just in orange county).
The most important facet of good phở is the broth. Lac Viet offers rich-​flavored broth — with just the right hints of Vietnamese herbs. The flavor of the broth is excellent, though I find the salt level to be inconsistent — sometimes it is too salty. The owner is very friendly, and he will explain to you that he doesn’t use MSG. Personally, it is my scientific opinion (I’m a scientist) that MSG is harmless — unless you have a sensitivity to it (very rare), and I don’t mind having MSG in my food. Actually, I prefer having MSG if it means that the food is more flavorful. Yet, this broth did not need it.
The broth goes perfectly with the hot chili peppers and lime. On campus you can get a large-​ish cup of phở for $ 7 (used to be $ 6). It is a good deal that will fill you up while not fill you out (low in calories). It is perfect to eat during those cold Ohio days.
I am not, however, a fan of their sandwiches (from the cart). Maybe I was expecting something else — I thought it was supposed to be Bahn mi (baguette, pâté, pickled diakon, carrots, cilantro, jalapeño). What you get is a sandwich on a non-​baguette bun with some meat, shiracha, hoisin, cilantro, and green peppers. Not bad tasting, but not bahn mi.
Overall, this is a great restaurant, and the owner is a great guy.

Good flavors but not enough food for price
Lac viet’s cart was at osu medical center so I went to check it out. Ordered some phở with chicken. It was a soup for $ 7 which I thought was steep. I had everything in it except the jalapeño peppers. I noticed they filled half the cup with rice noodles but only 2 pieces of chicken. The flavors were very good and the cilantro gave a nice touch. I just wish there was more chicken. 3 for flavor, 2 for service.

Best phở I’ve ever had in columbus. Friendly owner.
But their waitress is a 12 year old looking girl and I constantly fear if she can carry all of the food and feel bad for her. Also it takes a while (at least when I was there), to get your food.
Not a lot of selection, but that’s ok by me.
Must try: Lamb phở. You can’t find it anywhere else. Also the grilled shrimp is really good too, but there are only 5 shrimps.

Lately many of you may have been wondering why Lac Viet is closed from time-​to-​time. As previous Unilocalers have pointed out, Lac Viet now has food cart that it operates during lunch times. The owner, Thang, is in the process of operationalizing the experience and hiring help– but he is still, hands down, the best Vietnamese fusion chef that I have ever met. Being of asian descent, I can confidentially say that I have travelled to my share of Vietnamese joints in a number of places, and I feel very strongly that we have the best right here in our Columbus backyard.
Simply calling ahead of your arrival to the Bethel road location will ensure that someone is ready to take your order when you arrive.
Lac Viet has all of its tried-​and-​true staples. I had my favorite, lamp phở when we went this time. My friends too went straight for their go-​to dishes. However, after we had had some time to discuss and process our meals, Thang came out to tell us about the new fusion dishes he’s been pioneering on his cart.
Behold the Vietnamese ruben sandwich. With the sweet and spicy taste of pickled vegetables, and a delicate mix of hoisin and sriracha sauce– the tenderized beef brisket, cooked for over two hours– simply melted away on my tastebuds. When dipped in the broth, Thang assured me I was having a truly «authentic Vietnamese street food experience.»
As always, I left full and satisfied, itching to return again to one of the best-​kept secrets in this town.

Lac Viet now has a food cart, available at Dinin’ Hall one day a week. Other days you might find it on campus, and other places. It’s worth checking out, especially on the go, because the phở is served in tall soup cups. You eat the goodies out of the big soup cup with a fork, and then sip the broth out of the cup at the end. So the owner tells me. It makes sense as a street food to be eaten this way, rather than out of a giant wide-​mouthed bowl.
Anyway, the owner. Most of the reviews from Lac Viet include the very involved owner. He is very passionate about his business. He will give you an education on phở in general, phở in Columbus, and his phở. Just imagine if all the business owners in Columbus had such passionate and invested owners!
The phở itself was just what I needed on a chilly day when I was feeling a little under the weather. Delicious complex broth. I had the beef noodles but later the owner gave me a hefty sample of the lamb. So good, and definitely worth the slight upcharge.
The ultimate comfort food, in my book.

I don’t eat much Phở, but now that I have been here, I find myself craving it at least once a week. The lamb phở is phenomenal and the broth is the cure for what ails ya. I was sick and hungover the other day and grabbed a bowl of the lamb phở. The next day I was like a new man. That broth has powers. I also recommend the grilled shrimp in the lime pepper sauce as an appy, om nom nom, so simple, yet so delicious. The owner is a great guy who is passionate about his food and makes it a point to talk to everyone who comes into his restaurant. You can also catch him around town with his food cart and I believe he is looking to add a few more carts. Be careful when going here though and make sure you call to make sure they are open. They are usually open from only 5:30 — 8:30 pm, closed on Tuesdays and open for lunch on the weekends.

Hands down the best I have every had. Opened my eyes to what Phở is supposed to be. I honestly can’t go back to the other Phở Places now (sorry to my past loves). However it is hard to enjoy the phở here because it being open is spotty. The owner said he is transistioning to food carts. Once he gets a good way to track him down (food cart locations), we’ll be in business!

Lamb phô is a rarity. That fact goes hand-​in-​hand with the owner’s philosophy of being different and making an effort to bring the best possible dish to the table. I know some of our readers think they don’t like lamb, but I promise you that none of you have ever tasted lamb like this. The bite-​sized pieces are tender and flavorful — they have that fantastic Maillard reaction flavor better associated with seared steak. Each piece is coated in ground pepper, but the piperine had been leached out leaving behind a far subtler aroma without any heat. It’s a perfect complement to the lamb and a tribute to the passion put into making the best phô possible.
With a short menu, low prices and good food it’s hard to find a down side to this place. So, I’ll limit myself to wishing this place were closer to home. I can’t wait to go back and try their other menu options, but I’ll be hard pressed to pass up what is, without a doubt, the best lamb phô in the area.
In talking to other people I’ve heard of some potential down sides to an otherwise fantastic place: (1) Sometimes they are not open for lunch regardless of the times they say they will be open. (2) The options may be limited to phô, or they may not have lamb available. (3) They may not feel like making summer rolls, even if you order them.
I know the owner cares about the food. If he cares as much about the customers, and if there continue to be problems, hopefully he’ll take heed and make a change to his posted hours so he can stay open the entire time listed and maintain a full menu.
For my full-​lenth review visit

Although phở is a classic example of Vietnamese cuisine, its popularity is not limited to Vietnam alone. Since the Vietnamese refugees left Vietnam in 1975, Vietnamese restaurants all across the globe offer their own variations of this dish.
As many phở lovers already know, good phở depends first and foremost on the broth, which is what makes a difference between a dirty and clean broth, once you have had a broth with NO MSG or ALUMINUM SULPHATE you will understand this concept. Lac Viet opened my eyes to what I thought many of the Columbus PHO Restaurants were really serving which before I ate at Lac Viet I was under the impression that PHO was PHO, boy was I wrong!
Many of the so called PHO places here in town make a flash broth which is basically a method of speeding up the time it actually takes to make a good clean broth and cuts down the time needed by adding the MSG and Aluminum Sulphate to get the taste that is desired. Lac Viet takes pride in the broth and actually prepares the broth with a 24 – 48 hour simmer and no chemical additives.
The way phở is made largely varies on the skill and dedication of the person cooking it. Because of this, it is hardly a surprise that there are so many phở recipes to be found in Columbus these days. Phở is versatile enough to lend itself to different variations but you have to know where the rule can be broken, and where it cannot.
One thing is for sure though: if you really want to try the best PHO in Columbus then select a recipe from a REAL Vietnamese chef, preferably a respected one. The owner of Lac Viet has definitely made it clear with his PHO that he takes pride in his cooking and it shows.
The only reason I did not give this establishment 5 stars is very simple, the hours he is open only allows me to get the best PHO in town a couple days a week and not everyday :(Do yourself a favor try this place and realize this is real PHO!!!

This place was excellent. We have had Phở at many of Thang’s competitors, and my wife liked this Phở as much if not more than any of them. Similar to other reviews below, Thang was very engaging and proud of his Phở. He told us about the aluminum sulfate that is added to most Phở, nowadays. He explained his process and even took us back in the kitchen to show us his giant 60 gallon soup caldron. It is nice to see someone take so much pride in what they serve.
The spring rolls were served wrapped in lettuce and herbs, and they were some of the best I have had. The greens provided excellent texture, nuance and aromatics.
He brought us some of his lamb meat to try, and it was very flavorful and not chewy as much lamb is.

To whom it may concern:
Well this review should concern anybody that consumes phở. If you want the closest thing to home-​made phở, the way phở is intended to be made, then you should make your pilgrimage here.
Unfortunately, there is a big shift in how phở is prepared across the country. To keep up with the demand, many restaurants have to take shortcuts by adding MSG, flavoring cubes, and all sorts of other chemicals. Some restaurants simmer the bones in high heat to leach out the flavor only over a few hours in a small pot then add flavor enhancers. Almost in an assembly line fashion.
However, Lac Viet, takes a more purest approach and simmers the broth over 24−48hrs. In order to overcome the dilemma of using the assembly line approach to meet demand, the chef uses a huge stainless steel «caldron.» With one sip of the broth you, it brings you back home. You don’t need hoisin sauce, no siracha. There is no harsh spice overtone that hits the back of your throat.
The twist I truely appreciate is lamb phở. That combination has never crossed my mind, but it works superbly. It has taken me 2 years to find Lac Viet. And to be honest, I don’t think I can eat anywhere else for phở in Columbus.
And if you’re trekking from West side of Columbus, you can make the most of your drive by catching a $ 2.50 movie at Cinemark a few miles further on Bethel.

Get the PHO… great soup!

I had the best experience tonight at Lac Viet! I called in a few times for directions when I got lost and the owner was very friendly and enthusiastic to answer my questions each time. I got there just a bit before closing time and I thought he was going to ask me to take the food to go, but he encouraged me and my fiancé to sit down and experience what real Phở is like.
Thang gave us so much attention, educated us on Phở, and took so much pride in his restaurant and food cart. I had the chicken Phở and my fiancé had the beef Phở, and I honestly don’t know which was better. It was just perfect. Healthy. Fresh. No MSG or Aluminum Sulphate. I left there feeling full but refreshed.
I recommend this place to everyone! Try it. You won’t be disappointed.

I came here craving phở, but was talked by the waitress into trying one of their regional specialties: a [heavily] dill-​infused curried fish soup, served with a side of vermicelli.
The soup was one of the most flavorful and unique meals I’ve had in awhile. For some it might be a bit of an acquired taste, but I would suspect that even they might acquire the taste by the end of the meal. I enjoyed it, even if it was a little on the salty side
Unfortunately (and this is a minus-​two-​stars kind of unfortunate), the fish in the soup itself wasn’t great. It was dry and definitely overcooked, so much so that there was no way I could even guess what type of fish it was to begin with.
I’m still interested in trying the phở here, and will return for it.

Mmm… yummy. :-) I recently (or not so recently) lamented the downfall in quality of the phở at North Market — apparently I found where it went. Literally. Hubby had the chicken, I had the beef, and both of us left feeling very satisfied. The meat quality in mine was quite good and there was just the right amount. The soup is flavorful without relying too much on salt. (Don’t get me wrong, I like salt. And it has salt. But it’s not the only flavor!) The owner came over and said hi while we were there, obviously trying to be friendly and accommodating.
I do wish it was just a LITTLE cheaper.

We ate Phở Bo. The soup was clear and with enough Umami. The owner won’t use MSG for the soup.
Phở was delicious. We could eat them all even soup.
We went at dinner time, and Phở Bo was $ 8.
a little pricy?

After hearing about this place from friends that live in the area and many of the great reviews on Unilocal I decided to give Lac Viet a try for a late lunch. Thankfully I arrived there before they closed at 2:30 and was the only person in the dining room. I was greeted, seated and served by the Owner who was very nice and had a nice discussion with him. He was rightly proud of the wonderful soup stock they have here. You can really taste the time and effort into making this a must in Cbus for Phở Phans!
The lunch menu is fairly simple and prices are very good for what you get here. Of course they have hoisin and rooster sauces on the table plus their own house made hot sauce that is THE awesome, makes rooster sauce taste like ketchup. The dining room is very comfortable and nicely decorated with light muzak in the background (I swear I heard a orchestral version of «Dark Side of the Moon» playing)
Gave the Chicken Phở a try and it was wonderful, clear flavourful broth with a generous serving of rice noodles plenty of chicken. They give you a nice side plate of condiments (basil, sprouts, jalapenos) with just enough for your soup without wasting much. They also offer the nice big soup spoons with a nice feature, a hook on the end you hold so your spoon doesn’t slide down into your bowl, cool.
I lived in Oklahoma City for a few years and the large Vietnamese population there in the Little Saigon section of the city was my weekly haunt for a huge bowl of steaming Phở. It was my happy addiction and I really missed it when I moved back to Cbus. I have to say I have been on the search for something akin to my experiences out west and I think I have found my place here at Lac Viet.

I see some super great, raving reviews and some very bad reviews: My experience? Pretty much exactly the middle of the road.
The service was on the slow side, even though we were one of only a few tables. Our food was what we wanted and expected. It came out tasting hot (or cold, where appropriate) and fresh. Towards the end of our meal the owner came out and greeted us. He was very kind and gracious.
While it wasn’t an over the top excellent, I’d definitely go again to give it another try.

To the boy’s relief, I decided that we should try Lac Viet for my birthday dinner (what can I say, I’m a cheap date). It was a Sunday night and the place was pretty quiet, apart from some classical music and the owner going over plans to install security with his contractor. I ordered the phở and the boy had the french dip chicken sandwich. The menu is small, with only a handful of choices, but they all sounded really good. The waitress, who looked like she was in high school, was polite if a little shy. The boy really liked the sandwich, so much that I didn’t get a chance to even try it. The phở was excellent. It’s not a huge bowl, which others have mentioned, but it is definitely enough to fill you up. The broth is very dark and rich, and there is no MSG in it. This may be why some of the reviewers did not like it – MSG adds a punch to phở broth which many people associate with «good broth.» And since they do not use MSG in the broth, it may seem lacking in flavor at first. However, the richness and depth of the broth more than makes up for the absence of MSG — plus, no crazy headache afterward! Our total bill was less than $ 15, and we left pleasantly full.
Now, about the owner. Since it was pretty slow, he came by our table three times. Once to greet us, once when the food arrived and he was explaining why the phở broth looks different than conventional phở, and once when we were finished, to follow up and see how everything was, as well as asking where we were from and so on. While he was very friendly and enthusiastic about his food and the business, I’d say that was about 1.5 too many times to come by.
Still, we’ll probably be back since the food was good and the price was right. Plus, I’d rather have the owner be a little too friendly than the opposite.

OMG, they are open for breakfast!
Today I got a bowl of beef phở for $ 5, plus a Vietnamese coffee for $ 1.
I met Will, who has worked with the owner to develop a «global breakfast» menu. He’s very nice and excited about food. I plan to go back soon for a porridge dish – rice, coconut milk, star anise, bean sprouts, Thai basil, cilantro, and peanuts, with your choice of ham, sausage, egg, or shrimp. Check out my photo of the breakfast menu.