Cong Ly Restaurant

After lamenting for years that NYC lacks good Vietnamese restaurants on the level of Montréal (nevermind Vietnam), it was a stroke of luck to discover Cong Ly. I ordered a Báhn Hoi with grilled chicken and was thoughly impressed. The lettuce was fresh, cucumbers finely sliced, angel hair vermicelli steamed and springy, chicken marinated and nicely grilled. After wrapping the chicken, vermicelli, and cucumber in the lettuce and plunging my roll into the dipping sauce my tastebuds took a joyride. The combination of the dipping sauce and grilled chicken resulted in truly delicious umami flavors that didn’t exist individually. Will definitely be ordering this again next time maybe with beef.
The Chè Thung drink is also marvellous. If you weren’t aware Vietnam is well-​known for its inifinite variety of delicous, cooling drinks to be enjoyed on its many hot, hot days. One of these is chè, a traditional Vietnamese dessert. Here they serve chè thung, which has a combination of mung beans, lotus seeds, durian, tapioca, and coconut milk topped with crushed ice. If you have never tried durian this drink could be too much for your nose to handle. But they don’t put in a lot of durian, so it won’t smell like your gym laundry bag after it’s had a week to ripen.
Cong Ly is my new favorite Vietnamese restaurant in NYC.

Very cheap viet restaurant that is cash only. Not the most authentic but pretty much as good as it gets in New York

Cheap and delicious. Had the grilled shrimp with rice and finished every morsel. Food came quickly and all the dishes here are pretty much under $ 10. The establishment was clean and there’s a small bathroom down the hall. Also, it’s CASH ONLY.

This place is no frills but their phở and bun bo hue are so satisfying. If you’re looking to be reminded of how good homemade vietnamese food is, take a trip here.

The food is acceptable and the prices are moderate, but the portions are sized accordingly. The phở is good but the beef portions and tendons are scant. Service is slow. There is nothing outstanding about this restaurant. With so many other Vietnamese places easily within walking distance, it would be an odd choice to come here over the others. We did so to check it out and there is really nothing offensive about this place, but, then again, nothing particularly good about it either.

God, the phở broth was just so on point.
I really wanted to try the dry noodles with fried spring rolls and pork (bunbi or something? Idk) so I had to settle for just a side bowl of soup, but man that was easily one of the best little bowls of phở soup ive had in the East coast. So deep and complex LOL. My main was great too! It seems to be the second most popular item ordered and put up on Instagram for good reason.
Annoyingly cash only.

Only one vegetarian dish called Bun bi chay available. Being a Muslim who eats halal, I had no other choice but to order it and give it a try. I was missing Vietnamese food that I had in Ha Nam with fresh ingredients so I comfortably ordered it. I had no idea that it would be sooooo good-​I ordered a second. As writing this, I feel like ordering a third. Might try their desert instead.
You just have to order the above mentioned dish. It has tofu, vermiculite, and fresh items from the garden. Yummy.
Happy I found this place right behind the Lucky Star Bus stop. Close to B/​D Grand street stop.

Wait, I haven’t written a review for this place? I’ve been to this joint so many times over so many years (I lived around the corner for 8). I’ve seen it going under renovation and went from a gloomy slightly-​dirty dive spot to a nice and clean one. I’ve tried most of the dish on the old and new menus. No? Well, here goes…
The food is very good. You must check out the dried noodles with broth on the side (Hu Tieu My Tho Kho, «kho» means dry). I don’t know if they still do congee, but get that if they do. The older gentlemen who work there are pretty nice and friendly, as far as Asian restaurant staff goes. Prices reasonable. A /​tad/​more expensive than say, Nam Son and Phở Bang, but worth it imho.
Close early though.

Cong ly always offers a good consistent bowl of phở — broth isn’t too salty, noodles the right texture not too chewy and just be right about of meat. The only gripe is the portions are a little on the smaller side but a bowl is only about $ 6, dirt cheap by New York standards. Summer rolls are on point too. If I lived closer, this would definitely be my go-​to phở spot.

Cong Ly has been located in the lower east side/​chinatown for many years. Is frequently patron by residents in the area. As a kid, I do not remember if it was one of the food joints I go to. I told my colleague that the establishment was around for a long time. She chose the place after I showed her the history of Manhattan’s Chinatown.
The lemongrass chicken over rice was good. However there was not enough of the lemongrass flavor. The rice texture was firm and dry, just the way I prefer it.
Definitely is on my to go eats for good food away from the bustle of outsiders.

Inexpensive. (Cash only). Mediocre. Another disappointment with trying to find Vietnamese cuisine in Chinatown. We both had bun bi cha. The vegetables were not fresh. The cha were greasy. The meat non-​existent. Truly meh. The tables could be cleaner.

How-​how-​how did Phở Vietnam get a four star… and this place only 3 ½?!
This is preposterous, so I must write. This place for the price point (very low) and the location and the taste of almost everything deserves a 4-​star rating. It’s the BEST viet restaurant in Chinatown, and I have grown up here. My father has been going here for 10+ years for their Bun Tom Thit (Shrimp and Beef with Rice Vermicelli Soup), a very simple dish. My family and I used to make fun of him for going to this dingy (well when it used to look dingy) corner and eating alone for years.
Our ignorance continued, until we finally went with him (many years later, post-​renovation) and was fed great Viet food. And I seldom say that upon leaving my house. Alway, always, always get the Banh Beo for an appetizer. But for an entrée, I approve of all of the rice or noodle dishes.
Plus, everything here is so, so cheap! This place never disappoints… except for on Tuesdays (when they are closed).

My boyfriend was eager to try the chao long here after talking about how he missed Vietnamese food for weeks on end. It’s apparently very hard to find around here.
But find it, we did. Satisfied, we were.
The chao long is served super hot. I burned my tongue on several occasions. I couldn’t help it, it was too good. It’s seasoned super well with pork innards and spices, and topped off with cilantro and crispy onions. I really have no idea how it’s made (I wish), but it’s incredible to taste!
I’m also in love with their curry noodle soup. It’s very coconut-​y and creamy, and sort of on the spicy side. It’s just the right amount too. There’s never leftovers but I always leave full and satisfied.
I love eating here when it’s cold outside, since most of my favorite dishes are served hot and spicy. I wish I could keep this place a secret… But it’s too good not to share. Definitely the best Vietnamese food I’ve had around New York.

came here on my way to penn station for some hungover phở. service was fast but the people that work there don’t speak much english but very nice and helpful. i got summer rolls, grilled pork on the side with phở. the summer rolls seemed fresh, i didn’t really like the peanut sauce, it seemed a little chunky. the phở broth though was amazing! not many good vegetables to put in the phở (i wanted jalapenos) but i enjoyed the broth. the noodles seemed weird? they had ridges on the side of them, not what i’m used to. all in all, i had a satisfying meal but i probably wouldn’t come back and would want to try somewhere new (that didn’t have weird ridges on their noodles)

Cong ly is the restaurant that I frequent the MOST in NYC…
Simple & solid Vietnamese food, cheap, and fast service. You can’t beat $ 6 for a bowl of magic that is phở! It’s the best i’ve had so far in Chinatown. The curry chicken & vermicelli noodles are bomb too!
Tip: They close fairly early (9pm), plus they are now closed on tuesdays :(
I’ve caught them many times as they are locking their doors and their friends start showing up with beer during clean-​up.
Best 2^nd choice within walking distance would be Phở Grand, which is 2 blocks away and is open until 11pm! :)

With all the lack luster wanna be Vietnamese restaurants in the city, this one is the closest I could find to authentic Vietnamese food. I grew up in Northern Va with all the plethora of good Vietnamese food. Moved up to NYC and have always been disappointed with the restaurants here.
Spring rolls are the best I have had in the New York. Made with rice paper and not the lumpia paper and a decent size. The Bun Bo Hue is pretty good. A very difficult dish to make that everyone gets wrong but this place does a pretty good job.
Yes, this place is a hole in the wall, but if you are craving real Vietnamese food, then give this place a try.

One of the best Vietnamese restaurants that I’ve been to. Cheap, very authentic, amazing food! I am definitely a fan!
PROS:
Location: Located in Chinatown tucked away in a corner of Hester Street.
Service: Very quick and efficient service. I came here with my husband twice during my five day stay in NY. Both times we were seated asap and given tea right away. Our food came out within 10 minutes after ordering.
Food: They have a huge variety of Vietnamese dishes from noodles, rice plates, soups and appetizers. We ordered the bun bo hue (spicy beef noodle soup), phở, hu tieu nam vang (phnom phen noodes), banh beo (rice cakes) and ice coffee. Everything that we had was delicious and on point!
My husband can be very picky with his phở but he very much enjoyed it here. The broth was extremely delicious with the right amount of creamy beef flavors. The noodles were a little thicker than what you would see in a typical phở bowl but it was still good.
I was very impressed with their bun bo hue. BBH is my absolute favorite Vietnamese dish and I am not easily pleased with most of the restaurants that I’ve had it in. I can say that theirs is one of the best that I’ve ever had. The broth is very authentic with a perfect amount of the satay seasoning. Not at all bland but not too salty either. The beef slices were also very tender and fell apart easily.
The rice cakes were very fresh. The dough was soft and warm, I could tell that it was freshly made to order. They were garnished with a good amount of mung bean. Not very Vietnamese restaurant will have this item on the menu so I was pleasantly surprised.
The hu tieu nam vang was also delicious as well. The broth was also extremely flavorful with chunks of minced pork. The clear noodles served with it was a bonus. The different variety of meat (pork, liver, shrimp and quail egg) added additional flavors to the broth.
The coffee was perfect. Not too strong with the right amount of creaminess from the milk.
Price: Very affordable prices! $ 5-​$ 6 for the noodle soups. $ 4 for the rice cakes.
CONS:
Space: Very small establishment with 7 – 8 tables.
Tips: Cash only.

Look, if you’re looking for Micheline stars, Chinatown may not be the place to go. If you’re looking for cheap and tasty eats that come fast and real, yup, you have arrived.
The largest, most expensive bowl of noodles here are $ 6.50 and comes with every type of meat you can imagine (flank, brisket, tendon, tripe, eye of round… etc. but no meatballs — not sure if those are actually meat or just a crunchy gumball). The broth is clear and tasty — maybe some MSG but, as they say, «When in Rome…» They give you the platter of veggies to dress your own phở with and I always ask for extra basil.
Some extras of this joint over the others:
— fancy bowls: my bowl of noodles came in a square-​ish bowl and the hubb’s came in some sort of wavy bowl. Fancy.
— thick noodles: unlike other places, Cong Ly’s noodles are more like fettuccine noodles as opposed to the angel-​hair prevalent at other places. Don’t know if that’s a plus for you but I liked them just fine.
— street view seats: the shape of the restaurant is mostly rectangular with the long side facing the street. This allows for a lot more natural light and opportunities for people watching.
Like most places in Chinatown, customer service could be better. While here, a guy at a nearby table ordered 4 spring rolls and when they came he said he had wanted the non-​fried kind. The waiter said the fried ones were spring rolls and the non-​fried ones were summer rolls. They argued over it for a while and the guy ended up just taking what he didn’t want. I get the argument on both sides but in America, we get spoiled just a little bit as customers so no points docked for this — especially given the location.
Overall, a solid place to come for a quick and cheap bowl of noodles. Oh, bring cash.

Alright Unilocal,I need to call you out because you let me down. After reading the great reviews for Cong Ly I convinced a group to come here for some nice authentic phở. What I got instead was anything but.
Sat down for lunch with a group of 4, plenty of seating around the area. My friend (Asian — this is important), got there first where the waiter immediately served her some free tea. The rest of us got there (not Asian — important) and not so immediately got 3 waters. Okay…
On to the food, cheap as you would hope to expect, ordered the summer rolls and the meatiest phở on the menu (#1). Summer rolls — packed with a bunch of ingredients that amounted to little to no flavor. The side of peanut sauce made some difference but I had to add Sriracha to give it a decent kick. The Phở: bland as unflavored oatmeal. The noodles captured none of the flavor of the meat, the «meat» was mostly cartilage, and the broth was thin. Once again, Sriracha saved the day and I was able to finish a good portion of the meal.
Two stars only because of the price and immediate seating. But everything else screams 1 star. Thankfully went to Chinatown Ice Cream Factory later to save face.

Really good phở. Noodles are best I”ve eaten so far in New York. Really chewy and QQ. My favorite kind of noodles. Little bit skimpy on the meat, but broth is flavorful. Super cheap too. Only $ 5.50 for my bowl of phở. My Vietnamese friend from Hanoi says this place serves phở more similar to what he gets in Vietnam. Of course not like the real thing, but close as you can get in New York.
My Cantonese friend got the BBQ beef with rice. I didn’t try it, but the meat to rice ratio is a bit hilarious. The rice was about 4x larger than the little pieces of meat.