Photograph courtesy Bridges Nepali Cuisine
Since their humble beginnings as a food stand at Findlay Market in 2015, the owners of Bridges have set about bringing Nepali food to every corner of the tri-state. The four current locations offer the standards—aromatic basmati rice, momos, hakku chuala, and the like. But we’re obsessed with the woh, a pancake made of ground mixed lentils marinated in fresh ginger and Nepali spices and stuffed with a protein of your choice. 4165 Hamilton Ave., Northside, (513) 374-9354; 6304 Vine St., Elmwood Place, (513) 978-9055; 11 W. Seventh St., Covington, (859) 261-0508, 2459 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills, (513) 417-7704
The pho gets your mouth watering, turning everything else on the menu into an afterthought. Enjoy your noodles in beef broth with chicken, steak, and brisket or steak, brisket, tendon, tripe, and meatball. Orders come with a side of bean sprouts, fresh mint, sliced hot peppers, and lime wedges, and you can further customize your bowl to your tastes with the soy sauce and sriracha on every table. 6173 Glenway Ave., Ste. B, Westwood, (513) 481-1555
B&D Asian Nepali Market opened its doors last August, with plans to eventually open a restaurant. Ramailo Café opened its doors on Valentine’s Day and there’s a lot to love, like momos (Himalayan dumplings), the savory Tibetan soup thukpa, Pyaaji onion fritters, and jackfruit curry. Make sure you try our favorite, the pani puri—fried puff “shots” filled with potato, chickpeas, onions, and spices, and spicy flavored water. 9172 Winton Rd., Springfield Twp., (330) 605-9343
If you’re looking for great Vietnamese food, Pho Lang Thang owners David Le and brothers Bao Nguyen and Duy Nguyen have been turning out some of the best for nearly 15 years. Lemongrass grilled pork and chicken, gỏi cuốn (rice paper wrapped spring rolls), and bun (rice vermicelli noodle salad) are fan favorites. We recommend the pho bố, made with 20-hour Sakura Farms Wagyu beef broth. 1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 376-9177,
Downtown workers are very familiar with Saigon’s game; after all, the Vietnamese eatery is only open until 2 p.m. on most weekdays. If your lunch break doesn’t allow enough time to savor a big bowl of pho, we suggest you snag a bánh mì (with your choice of beef, pork, chicken, or marinated tofu) served with cucumber, pickled carrots and daikon, cilantro, and jalapeños on a chewy baguette or a bun, traditional Vietnamese noodle salad bowl with vermicelli noodles, meat or tofu, fried spring rolls, lettuce, cucumber, pickled carrots and daikon, cilantro, green onion, and peanuts. 151 W. Fourth St., downtown, (513) 381-7827
Along the corridor of international restaurants on Reading Road in Sharonville sits this casual eatery. Known for its savory pho, bánh mì, and translucent spring rolls, Pho Kimmy has been a Vietnamese staple in the ’burbs since 2017. Personally, we prefer the spicy beef vermicelli soup, the deep-fried popcorn chicken, and the bánh xèo, the Vietnamese version of a savory crêpe. It’s a crispy turmeric pancake stuffed with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts, served with fresh herbs and pickled carrots. 11974 Lebanon Rd., Sharonville, (513) 769-5999
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