Pho Ninh Kieu
4.25 Stars
Pho Ninh Kieu
73 New Rd
Parsippany, NJ 07054
973-521-9900
The weather has turned cold. I love the fall because it means soup weather. I have not mentioned this before, but I could eat soup with every meal. It was a chilly evening when we finally got to Pho Ninh Kieu. Big Baby and I have been meaning to try it for a long time. It is located in a strip mall in Parsippany. Believe me, from the outside it does not look like much. The inside is completely unexpected, warm and welcoming.
Big
Baby says:
Atmosphere: 8 Cleanliness: 6 Food: 8 Service: 10
Average Score: 8
I don’t exactly know what I ordered. It was some kind of beef stew but I would not recommend it. I think it would be a better choice to order the chicken pho. (what Mama Foodie ordered ) Her main course was great, but mine was just okay. However, my appetizer (pork dumplings) was still tasty.
The atmosphere was excellent; however not perfect, for the tables were too close together.
The bathrooms were clean, but there was a soap smell in the bathroom that was fit for only the most disgusting of stink bombs. It completely overwhelmed my sense of smell.
The service was outstanding. They got our orders correct, and they even gave me a free mango smoothie, which, by the way, was exquisite. If you are anywhere in the state of New Jersey and are interested in having the best Vietnamese cuisine around, then go to Pho Ninh Kieu.
Mama Foodie says:
Atmosphere: 8 Cleanliness: 9 Food: 10 Service: 10
Average Score: 9.5
Don’t get me wrong. Strip malls are convenient, and they really are a fixture in New Jersey. However, they are not particularly attractive, generally speaking. The outside of this one is unremarkable, but that is the only unremarkable thing about our experience at Pho Ninh Kieu.
We stepped inside into a really attractive, contemporary, and cozy space. We were immediately seated at a booth near the window. The menus are very attractive and bound in what looks like it could be lacquered bamboo. The waiter asked if it was Big Baby’s first time eating Vietnamese food, and it was. I ordered Chicken Pho. It is kind of my standby order at a pho restaurant. I also ordered some tofu spring rolls. The spring rolls were very fresh. The peanut dipping sauce was pretty good. The portion is very generous, as the two spring rolls are quite large. I would have been better off sharing the order. The chicken pho was amazing. The grilled chicken was served on the side, and the soup was presented with the traditional accoutrements. Our server recommended trying the broth before adding the sauces because they had just changed the recipe. Both the chicken and the broth were amazing. My mouth is watering as I write this and think about our meal. I did not add the hoisin sauce to the broth, but I did put in the sprouts, basil and jalapeno.
The service was excellent. I thought the place was very clean, but I did not visit the restroom. I was unable to finish my meal, but I left very, very happy. I recommend dining in to get the full experience.
