Mekong Delta Cafe

Unfortunately, the taste does not live up to the hype. The soup is fairly bland, and the meat is spectacularly tough. The price is also significantly higher than what I was expecting to pay for a bowl of phở.

Located inside the «Eats!» restaurant row connected to Charles Towers Apartments.
This is the best restaurant in the eatery. Reasonable prices, great portions, and huge flavor.
My favorite is the the shrimp/​scallops/​crabmeat vermicelli soup. It was ready within 10 – 15 minutes. Very good.
Cash ONLY
At this time (⁶⁄₂₁), they are gone for a little while for vacay I think, but call the shop and check back periodically to see when they will open back up.

I haven’t been here since they moved to their new location, and I must say it’s even better than I remembered it being. Seating is no longer an issue now that it’s in a food court. The broth was really flavorful and the portions were large.
They gave us a ton of meat, which is not always the case at phở restaurants. The ca phe sua da was also on point. My bf got a shrimp and pork platter but said the fish sauce marinade on the shrimp was a little too strong for him; being Vietnamese, I thought it was perfect but just be warned. I heard they’re closed for several weeks while they travel to Vietnam, but I will definitely go back when I get a phở craving in the fall!

They have the best spring roll and sauce ever! I love the scallop and shrimp one. We went there all the time for spring roll and phở!

how can i know if i could find decent viet noodle dish in the middle of B’more @random food court!
my friend highly recommended and took me there for early dinner. i read some mix reviews regarding to phở so honestly i was not sure before i went. my friend recommended seafood noodle soup so i got it. it was little sweet in the soup but it matched well with seafoods. shrimps were little chewy but random crab meats and scallops i found in the soup and were great accents. i could take it better if it is spicy. so i added some chilies. i also add some limes which helped to settle down sweetness for me.
it may be hard to find the place. they are located in the Charles Tower food court. parking could be challenging. i parked off Saratoga street and my car got towed. West bound of Saratoga is no parking restriction but East bound is. so pay extra attentions what street signs said. it is easy to miss the sign, and the city is no joke. they will tow your car.
gotten towed my car was not pleasant experience but food was good. i wanna go back for another bowl of noodle soup. but i imagine that lunch time would be packed… also, they are closing until end of August because they are going back to Vietnam. I suggest to check if they still open before heading down there if you are thinking to go during this summer.

Good, fast and fresh Vietnamese food. I really enjoy this resto, although I prefer the quaint feeling of their old location compared to the new location in a cheap lunch counter type space. Despite this, the food is always a winner and the prices are amazing given the quality and abundance of food that you get.
I gave 4 instead of 5 stars, because the hours at this place are limiting (close at 8). In addition, I’d you call 15−20min before closing to order food, the owner has told me a few times that they cannot accommodate my order because they’ve already started cleaning up.

This restaurant is located in the Eats Café off of Charles St. and is totally unassuming — I don’t expect much from a cafeteria type joint, but this place blew me away. It is probably the best Phở I’ve ever had! Service is fast and food is amazing — what more can you ask for!
The broth is the perfect mixture of sweet and spicy and it’s packed with flavour — you get your choice of beef (meatballs, flank, rare). I’ve been here at least 5 times and it has consistently been delicious! For the price, the portions are very generous! I’ve also had the grilled chicken and shrimp non-​fried roll — they’re both very big and pretty good. The Star is Phở!
I highly recommend you go here if you’re in the area… scratch that, even if you’re not in the area you should come and check this place out!
Strong 5 stars!!!

I’ve heard good things about their phở so was super excited to try it out. I ordered the number 2 (phở with rare beef) and was kind of disappointed given all the hype. While the portion size was big and they served it with plenty of meat, the beef was ironically overcooked. And the broth, which did not come out piping hot, was overpowered by an odd sweetness. So… my search for good phở in the city continues.

Their hours, according to the sign on their storefront, is from 11am-​8pm Mon-​Sat. I went at 1pm on a Saturday, which should have been peak lunch hour, and they were inexplicably closed. There were a couple of other people that I saw or spoke to who were also planning to eat there at the same time, and were not able to that day.
I will edit this review to add thought on the food next time I visit, though I will certainly be calling first to check that they are open according to their posted hours!

Phở in the city is hard to come by. I’ve heard such great things about Mekong Delta so had been looking forward to trying it for a long time. It is in a food court so you order at the counter, get a number, then pick up your food when your number was called. First disappointment was that there was no tripe on he menu. I ordered the meatball and rare beef phở. When I got my phở, it looked amazing!!! A boatload of meat with noodles jam packed in my bowl. However, I was not as excited when I took my first bite. The broth lacked flavor and it seemed like they tried to make up for the lack of flavor by making it sweet. The steak was not rare and was actually kind of overcooked. Meatballs were fine and noodles were a good consistency. I probably won’t make the trek out here for phở again.

The best Phở in Baltimore! Open on Saturday’s too. My tip is to bring cash because they dont use credit cards/​debit cards or good looks as a form of payment lol.

I worked in the city for a brief time and always made sure I came here for Phở. Their broth is delicious and their portions are huge. My personal favorites were the chicken phở and the phở with meatballs. Always filled with generous portions of meat.
The owner is really friendly and accommodating. The café it is in has ample seating but can fill up around peak lunch times. Also, the wait here can be a little long once it hits 12 o’clock or so.
Cash only.

They moved from their old spot almost close to a year now, and are now in the Eats building across the street. Food is still fine, cheap and plentiful. Now, the issues of not having a place to sit is probably a thing of the past. I like their spring rolls, and any rice or vermicheli dish. I dont do Phở, so check other reviews. Good, convenient, and cheap, my favorite words.

This place is like old reliable for me just based on the region. Initially, I thought their broth to be highly overseasoned. I also had a bit of sweetness to it, but I am thinking that with beef phở, that would work out well, just not so much with seafood. With the seafood, they are generous with the meats-​you get an abundance of shrimp, scallops, and crabmeat for a competitive price. The owner, who is a very fine and kind gentleman, always deliver exceptional customer service. I will continue to patronize this place.

Excellent phở. Massive fresh spring rolls. Friendly service. Clean dinning area. So happy to dine here.

Consistent quality, good presentation, very phở. Just go there, doesn’t go wrong. Only took off a star because it can be slow ordering, as most of us just have 1 hr for lunch break.

2.0 stars
I came here with my wife for lunch for phở. We both really love phở and have been spoiled by great phở in California before moving to Baltimore, so our standards may have been a bit high. With that being said, we felt the food here was slightly off and a bit pricey.
Food:
We ordered the summer rolls, regular combo phở (#P6 at $ 9.50), and rare meat and tendon phở (#P5 at $ 8.75). The summer rolls themselves were good, but the peanut sauce was weird. It didn’t taste like peanut sauce and was more like a watery fish sauce.
The phở was cooked well, but the broth was overly sweet. Meat portions were good and we had plenty of sprouts, jalapenos, limes, and basil. However, the sweetness and oiliness of the broth overwhelmed all the good qualities of the phở. My wife ended up not eating more than half of her phở :(
Service:
Mekong Delta is in a food court, but the owner is friendly. It looked like Mekong Delta is family run which I do appreciate. The place is also cash only and a bit on the pricey side.
Overall:
I really wanted to like this place; however, the overly-​sweet, oily phở and unusual peanut sauce is going to stop me from coming back. I’m not sure how my opinion would change if I came in without expectations of what the food should be like, so if you haven’t had phở before or are willing to change your interpretations on how it should taste, you might like Mekong Delta. For me, Mekong Delta only gets 2 stars.

This is by far the most amazing phở place in the the US. I eat phở all the time but they all get compared to this place. If I am driving on I-​95 I will make a pit stop here just for their food. Their broth is the secret. It’s super flavorful and tasty. It’s like sipping on what chicken noodle soup always dreamed of being. This place is no joke in terms of quality, taste and food. I’m salivating just writing this review. Anyone who ranks this place less than 5 stars probably owns a phở restaurant that is in direct competition with this place.

I went on a Thursday during lunch. It wasn’t particularly busy, but my order took about 20 minutes to come up. I don’t mind a wait for fresh food though. The veggie/​tofu phở was delish. And the lemongrass spring rolls were such a surprise. 2 huge rolls stuffed with goodies for such a great price.
I still wish they took a card. But the extra step to visit the ATM was worth my while.

I’m sad to say this place didn’t live up to my expectations. The summer rolls were mainly lettuce. I was pulling lettuce out and the rolls were still pretty lettuce heavy.
The phở was dry. How can phở be dry, you ask? When you fill a small bowl with noodles, a bit of meat, and less than half the bowl with broth, it dries out everything. Some of the meat didn’t cook all the way and the noodles were tough when eaten. The broth was slightly salty and even hosin and sirracha didn’t make it better. I ate a few bites and left. Maybe I’m spoiled with my Vietnamese roommate who cooks traditional food often but I don’t think so.

Is back!
We got their phở. Same flavorful broth as always. Bowl was different than usual.
We also got grilled shrimp summer rolls to split. Not as good as regular old summer rolls.
Always hits the spot.
Authentic and friendly. A classic.
Got their Vietnamese iced coffee too. Very sweet!
Holla to Leo the owner/​chef.

Phở was excellent and pretty decent size. OK. Sitting area is like a cheap food court but you can get take-​away. Summer roll was the best one as it was so huge (one was exploded with fillings) to fill me up. Fast and friendly service too.
If I’m ever in Baltimore, I will definitely get Phở and summer roll here again.
PS: Cash only!

BEST phở I could find in area (and I’m from seattle where we have TONS of phở).
My recommendations are to get the lemongrass spring rolls (cheap, delicious, and good portions).
I’m also particularly partial to the P2 phở option. But as far as I know — you can’t go wrong with any of their dishes!

Best phở place in Baltimore and beats Phở Dat Thanh in Towson IMO. Come here for the phở (obviously) it won’t disappoint – big portions and lots of meat. The new location is within a food court, and I believe Me Kong Delta is the only stall open after lunch here. There’s plenty of seating since it’s a good court, but the wait can be long (between 10 – 20 minutes) and they are cash only.

Staff were nice but the food was mediocre. I had the vermicelli bowl with pork and spring rolls. Both the pork and spring rolls were really bland. I was hoping for some nicely charred pork but instead there was no char or color on the pork and it was a bit tough. The veggies on the vermicelli were fresh and the portion is generous.
It’s about right for what you’d expect from a food court but I wouldn’t get the vermicelli again.

Who woulda thunk that there would be a super solid place for an authentic Vietnamese meal in the food court at Charles Towers? I’m just glad there is. Though it’s cash only (possibly the only minus about this establishment), the moola you do shell out is well worth it.
The summer rolls are, to put it simply, stupendous. They are humongous, but don’t be fooled into thinking that they sacrifice quality for quantity. Oh, no, indeed, the quality is on par with the (giant) quantity. Each roll is expertly packed with fresh vegetables, shrimp, pork, and cilantro… and did I mention they’re huge? The peanut sauce with which they come is delicious, and just barely enough for the two rolls. But I’m sure the owner wouldn’t mind giving you some extra if you wanted (he’s super nice and hard-​working, btw).
And the phở. Yum. The broth is good, the noodles are plentiful, and the meat is large and in charge. Perhaps the only other maybe minus is the fact that the bowls aren’t as big as they could be. They’re filled to the brim with soup, and that makes for precarious moving from the counter to the table (s). Other than that, though, I didn’t mind.
Their Vietnamese iced coffee is no joke. It might be small, but it packs a punch, and for those who aren’t used to such strong java, it may be best to wait until the ice melts a bit, so the flavors are a bit more mellowed out.
Overall, a definite boon to the area, and a supremely tasty one to boot!

Love this place. The broth is amazing. It’s way better than Indochine. I’ll be back. I ordered chicken phở with meatballs. It was the

SURROUNDING: Downtown baltimore, street parking, moderately sketchy neighborhood. Go here during the day.
SERVICE: Small restaurant, family run business. When I say family run, I MEAN family run. I have seen rude people straight up kicked out by the intimidating owner/​waiter. You might want to call before you go, because they may be observing a holiday. Food takes about 15minutes, because it’s literally made in the attached kitchen right after you order. The place is usually full, so may have to wait 5 min for a seat. CASH ONLY!
FOOD: Tried phở, summer roll, bun bo nuong. Most authentic vietnamese food in Baltimore. Portions are a little smaller, very fresh ingredients.
PRICE: 10/​bowl
BOTTOM LINE: An authentic mom and pop viet stop.

If you’re looking for a quick work lunch, but you’re absolutely craving Vietnamese food, the Mekong Delta Café, located in the Charles Tower food court, is there for you!
I’ve gone here three times and have had a variety of options (thoughts below), but I wanted to note that all my experiences were take out. It’s really hard to get noodle soups to go and be pleased with the quality, which is why I’m giving them 3 stars. They’re always really accommodating (separating the noodles and soup into different containers, labeling between everyone’s orders and arranging it all neatly in an easy to carry box). It does take some time and they only take cash, but it’s worth it to satisfy your Phở needs.
1. Pork/​seafood Hu Tieu — delicious, hearty broth! Pork was dry, but I just dipped it in the hoisin sauce so I was quite content
2. Rare beef phở — the one time I ordered phở, the meat was sadly clumped together, which turned me off on even attempting to salvage my lunch. But, my coworkers have ordered the phở numerous times so I’m sure this was just a result of the takeout curse!
3. Grilled pork/​egg roll vermicelli — what a surprise! I wasn’t feeling soup that day and ended up loving how this dish turned out. I do wish i had more fish sauce for the noodles, but I’ll know to ask for extra next time.
4. Spring roll — rubbery waste :(Just ended up eating the shrimp inside, but never again!
Maybe one day I’ll sit in and try their Phở when it’s hot and fresh out of the kitchen, but for my go-​to Phở urges, Mekong Delta does deliver.

This is a decent place, probably 3.5 stars.
This little place is a little bit hidden. It’s in the little cafeteria place. My friend, boyfriend, and I wanted to do phở on the freezing (randomly snowy) Valentine’s day. We were going to go somewhere else, but because of the snow and time, we ended up finding this place, which was much closer. They do open until 9pm on Saturday, so head on in even though the rest of the cafeteria is closed.
Their phở was pretty good. Rich flavor, although I’m wondering if they use MSG because, of course, it was kind of salty. They gave us a lot of meat, which was super nice, but I don’t really know if that was because we were the only people there (since it was snowing out, and it was getting close to closing.) or if they normally give that much per bowl. It was an average sized bowl, and therefore, on the pricey size for phở (close to $ 10).
Egg rolls were fried fresh (again, prob b/​c we were the only ones there) so they were nice and hot, but also super oily. They could have dabbed it on paper towels first. Nothing really special though.
The owners were super nice. All in all, if you’re craving phở, this is a decent place to check out, and it’s one of few places within the city and in walking distance.

Unfortunately, I may have to «buck the trend» here; while there are things about Mekong Delta that have improved since the move to the new location, my previous impressions (which was a 3-​star review the last time) remain.
The new location is definitely a big improvement; there is plenty of seating available for everyone and anyone that stops in. It’s in the food court at the bottom of Park Charles/​Charles Towers; there are plenty of tables at which you can relax and take your time eating the food, something that just wasn’t possible at the old place (which had maybe six tables, if you were lucky). It’s not as far from the old place, either, only a block away, so it’s not that difficult to find. Parking might be a little easier, too, since there’s an underground garage. (I do find it amusing that someone stated the old place was in «a sketchy area» — so one block apparently makes a difference?) So, definitely points for more space. I appreciate that.
I ordered summer rolls and a bowl of phở (P6, steak and meatball), looking forward to at least the summer rolls, if nothing else — I remembered that Mekong had THE best rolls in Baltimore. However, when I received them… wow, what happened? The rolls were about 90 percent LETTUCE, I kid you not — very little in the way of shrimp, sprouts or any other filling. Really, if I wanted lettuce, I’d have ordered a salad. And the peanut sauce was NOT the sauce that I knew and remembered so fondly — this was watered down, sour, thin — seriously a huge disappointment. I was absolutely crushed — what happened to their rolls? They once had the BEST rolls, ever. Apparently not any longer.
The phở was a bit better than I remembered, though the broth was still WAY too sweet for my liking (and adding hoisin to it ended up being a huge mistake). Still way too much noodles and meat to broth — I prefer the broth, always have, and it was no different than the last time (though, in this case, it may have been a blessing). They did get rid of those irritating square bowls, though, which is good. It may seem weird that I’m complaining about too much meat and noodles, but there was just little balance to this bowl of phở, and I recall that this was the general problem that I’d had with this place the last time I’d visited, as well.
The service continues to be good, though the cozy «small-​business» feel has somewhat dissipated with the move to the new place.
Still cash only, which is a huge irritation. I just don’t carry cash with me — I live in Baltimore City and the less you have available on you, the better. However, there is an ATM in the food court as you come in the building, so that was convenient.
This place isn’t fast, either, though I don’t expect good phở to be, so if you’re in a hurry, you may want to go elsewhere. They’re going to take their time.
Unfortunately, I think that I’d prefer to walk/​drive the 8 blocks further north and go to Indochine over this place — unlike Mekong Delta, they 1. take credit/​debit cards 2. offer damned good bahn mi sandwiches, which Mekong DOESN’T 3. the phở in general is just better tasting overall.
I gave it a shot. I tried. But it just didn’t rate anything more than an «okay».

A few things
1– Great Phở!
2– Great Service
3– Fresh Food
4– Call your order in before you are at starvation level (especially at lunch time)
5– Cash Only
Im happy that they have finally reopened. and even better across the street from me! The crew here works very hard to ensure they are putting out delicious food and sometimes that comes with a wait.
Its worth it.

Wow this place is a hidden gem. The menu is small but very well prepared with Phở as the main staple. The spring rolls were freshly made and very large. The Phở was packed with meat and vegetables. The broth was a huge turn on for me, the heat was perfect and the taste was not over powering. Ample spices made the soup one of the best in Baltimore.
Downside to the visit, parking in a parking garage and can be hard to find during rush hour. Next once inside the building with the «eats» sign look for the rest rooms and you will run into the stand. BEWARE they only take cash as payment at this really me so bring it. The average dish ranges $ 8 – 10 and the apps are $ 3 – 6. I walked it from the Royal Farms Arena in less than 10 minutes, it was worth the walk. Enjoy