I’ve been on a serious pho kick lately, Nomsters, like an almost embarrassing amount of noodle soup, so when @minjesuh put me on to this mom-and-pop spot in Parkville, I had to go check it out. Pho Saigon Hanoi, in Parkville, sits in an unassuming strip mall on Harford Road, the kind of place you’d drive right past, but the food’s seriously fantastic.
It was my first time there, though it’s already @minjesuh’s family go-to, and that’s usually a green flag in my book. I went straight for their Bún Bò Huế ($17.99), a spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup, and the broth was SO delicious with nice bouncy noodles. If you love bold, brothy Vietnamese food and you’re anywhere near Baltimore County, this budget-friendly little spot’s worth the stop.
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What Makes Pho Saigon Hanoi a Standout Vietnamese Spot in Parkville
Here’s the thing about Pho Saigon Hanoi, it’s a true mom-and-pop spot, and those are always the ones I get most excited to put you guys on to. Tucked into a strip mall on Harford Road, it’s easy to miss, but the menu runs deep: a whole lineup of pho (bowls run from around $8.99 up to a loaded $24.99 special with rare steak, brisket, tendon, tripe, and meatball), vermicelli bun bowls, rice plates, a banh mi, and appetizers.
What sets it apart for me is that it does the harder-to-find stuff well, like a proper bún bò Huế, not just the standard beef pho every spot has. If you’re building out a Vietnamese-in-Maryland list, it earns a place next to gems like An Loi over in Columbia. It’s the kind of neighborhood place a family keeps in heavy rotation, which is exactly how @minjesuh’s crew treats it.
What to Order at Pho Saigon Hanoi
Bún Bò Huế ($17.99)
This is what I ended up going with, and it did not disappoint. Bún bò Huế is a spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup from the city of Hue in central Vietnam, and it’s bolder and funkier than your average bowl of pho. The broth here was SO delicious, and the noodles were nice and bouncy, which I loved (they’re thick and round, not the flat rice noodles you get in regular pho). If you’ve been eating a lot of standard pho and want something with more of a kick, this is the move. Consider yourself warned though, it’s meant to bring the heat.
Pork Egg Rolls (3 for $5.99)
You gotta get an order of these to start. Three pork egg rolls for $5.99 is such good bang for your buck, and they were delicious. Easy add-on, easy yes.
Vietnamese Coffee
And of course, I had to get a Vietnamese coffee. It’s strong, sweet, and exactly the pick-me-up you want alongside a big bowl of soup. A classic for a reason, and they do it right.
A few other things worth knowing if bún bò Huế isn’t your thing:
- The regular pho bowls are the bread and butter here, from an affordable small size up to that loaded special with rare steak, brisket, tendon, tripe, and meatball.
- There’s a banh mi on the menu around $10 if you want something to go. If you’re specifically hunting the best banh mi in the area, though, my heart still belongs to Saigon Blvd Banh Mi in Catonsville.
- Vegetarians aren’t left out, there’s a vegetable pho and vegan fresh summer rolls.
- Reviewers rave about the sweet chili wings and the fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce, so those are on my list for next time.
What’s the Difference Between Bún Bò Huế and Pho?
They’re cousins, not twins. Pho is the mild, aromatic one, a clear beef or chicken broth simmered with charred onion, ginger, star anise, and cinnamon, served with flat rice noodles. Bún bò Huế comes from central Vietnam and it’s the bolder sibling, built on lemongrass, fermented shrimp paste, and chili oil, with thick round noodles instead of flat ones. It’s spicier, funkier, and more intense all around.
The Vibe and Experience
Don’t come expecting anything fancy, this is a casual, strip-mall mom-and-pop spot, and that’s the charm. You order, grab a table, and the food comes out fast and hot. It’s the sort of low-key neighborhood place that’s great for a solo lunch (which is exactly how I’d happily put away a whole bowl of bún bò Huế) or a no-fuss family dinner. Parking’s easy in the shared lot right out front, and the place feels like the kind of reliable local find @minjesuh’s family clearly treasures.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 9613 Harford Rd, Store K, Parkville, MD 21234, in a strip mall right on Harford Road.
- Hours: 10AM to 8:30PM daily.
- Prices: budget-friendly, with most bowls landing in the mid-teens and a loaded special pho around $24.99.
- Parking: free lot right out front.
- Dine-in, takeout, and delivery are all available, and you can order online through their website.
- Vegetarian options: yes, including a vegetable pho and vegan summer rolls.
The bún bò Huế here alone is worth the trip, and for a budget-friendly mom-and-pop spot doing a harder-to-find dish this well, it’s an easy recommendation if you’re anywhere near Parkville. It’s not a fancy night out, it’s a really good bowl of soup in an unassuming strip mall, which is genuinely my favorite kind of find. If you’re anywhere near Baltimore County and want another solid Vietnamese spot, Pho Saigon in Catonsville is worth a look too.
For another Asian spot a little further up that way, Edorrito in Nottingham does build-your-own sushi burritos and has been in the sushi game since 1997.
Have you guys been to Pho Saigon Hanoi yet, or do you have another pho spot I need to try? Drop it in the comments, Nomsters, you already know I’m always down for more noodle soup. And if you’ve got a friend who’s just as obsessed with pho as I am, send this their way.