Mi Li Cafe

Had a craving so we stopped in for some pho and a banh mi -- got my fave large bowl of pho tai (rare steak) and Mr R got a large pho with rare steak and meatballs. As we do, we shared a grilled pork banh mi. Man, everything just tastes so good here! It's hard to not get my favorites because they're that good. I think the banh mi is the best in Columbus.Friendly, quick service again this visit! For me, it's worth the drive. Prices are fair, too. I really could eat 50 of those banh mi!One star off for our table not being especially clean, which is disappointing. Everything needs a good disinfectant wipe down.

We're here at least once a month. We just get a yen for Pho. Servers are polite and the ambiance says Asian home cooking. Mi Li never disappoints!

Easily the best pho place in Columbus with a very homey/hole in the wall vibe.Food came out super quick, and was piping hot. Definitely felt like the food was "made with love". Also really appreciate that the staff was present but didn't constantly/over check in.

Very fast service, delicious authentic Phó and summer rolls. I highly recommend. Happy tummy!

Food is amazing and authentic. My favorite Pho in Columbus. I've loved everything I've ever ordered.

Mi Li has definitely been a bit if a surprise Vietnamese restaurant. Coming from LA and spending quite a but of time out in Westminster, I've been very spoiled by Viet food. Mi Li definitely is a good reminder of what I have back home.The restaurant is casual and unassuming but staff is always very pleasant and patient. You'll hear a mix of Viet and Cantonese for those familiar with either language. Food wise, I've enjoyed the pho and beef stew here. Pho broth is flavorful and beef parts are cooked well to go along with it. The star for me here has been the banh mi. The bread is so perfectly crisp and light, the pate flavorful, the herbs and daikon/carrot fresh and bright. It def rivals my favorite banh mi spot back in LA.I'd highly recommend anyone to come out here to get a Viet fix. Or if Viet food is new to you, try a banh mi and some pho, it'll be great for the soul and stomach!

Very homie!It's so cold outside so my husband wanted to get some pho, we usually go to our spot in Hilliard but he found this place that a lot closer to us.He got Banh Mi, Pho and Iced coffee. Everything was good and they offered so many kind of chilli sauce. He ate them all! The only thing that be complaint was, it's too small... it wasn't enoughI got grilled pork with rice, I saw the picture that it came with egg but actually it doesn't, you probably need to pay extra on that. The pork was good, I really like the lemongrass or whatever herb they used for marinate the pork.... and yes, it's too small for me too, I need more pork!The service was nice, the restaurant was clean. We will go back and I will get the same thing with extra pork!

Lots of great food. Most staff struggles with English. Try the Pho soup. Just point at the numbers.

The food was amazing. I got the Pho Ga and the Chicken Summer Roll. The broth was amazing and had a depth of flavor. The chicken roll came with this amazing peanut sauce and tasted homemade. And the chili oils were fantastic! Service was good and fast!

Review: Bò Kho (Menu #29) - I Tried, But I Just Couldn't Get Jiggy With ItI walked into this experience knowing bò kho wasn't going to be the beef stew I grew up with--I was ready for that. I've been to Mi Li Café plenty of times, and their pho is consistently delicious. Over time, I've switched to chicken (and even considered shrimp) because some of the other proteins have taken me on unexpected textural journeys. But today, feeling bold, I decided to give Menu Item #29: Beef Stew with French Bread a shot. I knew it would be different--just not this different.Service Expectations: The Dice RollBefore we even get to the food, let's talk about service expectations because, depending on who you get, it's a completely different experience. You either get someone who can code switch for your ass--reading you immediately and giving you that warm, slightly Americanized hospitality--or you're getting the "hurry up and buy" experience where your order is taken with the kind of efficiency that makes you question if you're even supposed to be dining in.Today, I got the "hurry up and buy" service. No greeting, no small talk--just a quick "What you want?" and an expectation that I knew my answer immediately. No problem. I thought I knew what I wanted.The Broth: A Textural SurpriseMy brain had read the description of the menu item, and I felt confident that I didn't need to question the broth. But when my bowl arrived, the texture caught me off guard. It had that silky, collagen-rich consistency that comes from long-simmered proteins and bones. Not bad, just different. I took a few more sips, trying to adjust, but I quickly realized I needed reinforcements.The French Bread: My Only LifelineEnter the French bread. Now, this? Absolutely flawless. The same crispy, golden bread they use for their Vietnamese subs (which, by the way, Menu #7 is great). I figured dunking it into the broth might be my saving grace, and honestly? It helped. The bread softened just enough to carry the flavors, making the broth a little more approachable. For a moment, I thought I might have figured it out.The Beef: A Mystery I Wasn't Ready to SolveBut then, we got to the beef. And listen--I wasn't brave enough to dive in. I took one look at what was floating in my bowl, and it took one look back at me. Everything about the beef was a mystery I wasn't prepared to solve. Some pieces looked tender. Others had a texture that made me hesitate. I poked at it like I was analyzing a crime scene, but ultimately, I had to respectfully decline this cultural experience.My Failed Attempt at Fixing ItDetermined to salvage the situation, I called myself doctoring up the stew with their chili oil and garlic sauce, which I know to be delicious. But instead of saving the dish, I somehow made it worse. The broth, already unfamiliar, was now spicy, garlicky, and aggressively overwhelming--a hot mess, both literally and figuratively. At this point, I had no choice but to accept defeat.The Check: A Waffle House MomentNow, before today, I have never questioned my bill total at this spot. But today? My server rang me up and added a whole extra dollar to what was listed on the menu. No explanation, no itemized breakdown--just vibes. It felt a little like Waffle House, where you just pay whatever total they tell you because questioning it might get you banned. And honestly? I wasn't in the mood to argue over a dollar. I just paid and left, slightly confused but fully humbled.Final ThoughtsSo, bò kho, I respect you. I see what you were trying to do. But no matter how much I dunked, mixed, or seasoned, we just weren't meant to be. Maybe one day I'll be ready, but today was not that day. Until then, I'll stick to my chicken pho--or Menu #7, because that sandwich has never let me down.Final Rating: 3 stars for the stew (I take full responsibility for not being built for this). 5 stars for the bread (perfection). 1 star deducted for my overconfidence in the power of condiments. Bonus half-star for the Waffle House-style mystery tax, because at least it gave me a laugh.