Lela's Bistro

I was a little reluctant to try this place after reading the reviews but I had already mentioned it to my coworker who really had to try it. I was dragging my feet on the way here but I ended up having a really great experience. I ordered the beef pho and I now understand what people mean when they say it's not your typical run-of-the-mill pho broth. The pho broth is light and refreshing, it doesn't give you that bloated sodium overload feeling. It actually reminds me of the pho I had in the central region of Vietnam. The restaurant itself is situated in a historic house which is super cool. I didn't want to leave after my meal. The servers were friendly and professional. I highly recommend this place.

Hands down one of the best spots in town for vermicelli noodle bowls. The lemongrass chicken is full of flavor, and thin crispy eggrolls are addictive! Lela's positions their menu as scratch made Vietnamese comfort food, and they definitely deliver. I love the setup of the restaurant. Positioned in a traditional old Portland craftsman, it's just super cozy. I've taken advantage of the rocking chairs setup on the front porch after a satisfying meal. Lots of fun people watching on NW 23rd!

Cute little Vietnamese spot that makes you feel so cozy on a busy street!Great service despite it being a place where you order & pay ahead of being seated. The servers were attentive and kind. The food was great. I got the crispy pork belly noodles, and the pork belly was perfection. It paired well with the noodles and fresh veggies along with their fish sauce dressing.

Was craving some pho and this did not disappoint! Got the beef pho and the broth was super flavorful! I really was surprised at how flavorful it was! Also got the pork and shrimp salad rolls which were ok. You order at the counter and they bring the food out. Love the front porch and seating both inside and outside.

Located alongside 23rd is a very hole in the wall Vietnamese spot. The service was fast and the people working there are very friendly and attentive. We were a big group so we had to shift tables around which is all good and they even helped us along the way. I got the banh mi and pho broth and it was good! The banh mi you can tell is freshly made and the pho broth was rather sweet for my taste. All in all, it's good food, but a little overpriced for what it is.

The fam and I were in PDX for the afternoon & decided to stop by Lela's Bistro after reading their yelp reviews. We ordered lemongrass chicken Banh mi combos, which comes with a cup of their pho broth or salad. I opted for the salad; their dressing was tasty and refreshing. My husband ordered the cup of pho broth, it was delicious and definitely made me want to try their pho for my next visit. The Banh mi was bursting with savory flavor and loaded with fresh cilantro, pickled daikon & carrots, jalapeños, green onion, and house aioli. The staff were friendly, and the restaurant is located inside a sweet house with cool decor. I wish I lived closer, but I will definitely be back.

We love dog friendly patios!The egg rolls and salad rolls were really good! I always find getting 3 rolls is awkward when it's just two, though. I also wasn't a huge fan of their nước mắm. The subs were delicious! I liked the amount of veggies, I wish it had been stuffed with more protein, though. I got the vegan pho option and liked it more than the regular that my partner had, especially when dipping the bánh mì. The regular one was a bit sweet.

Such a great place for a snack or a meal! My sis picked up a Vietnamese iced coffee for that afternoon sweet tooth kick and I had to get in on that action. I ended up with some summer rolls too which were a nice big size. Their Bahn mi prices looked great and love the side of pho broth it comes with it. Next time I'm hungry I'm coming here first for Vietnamese cravings

I was a bit hesitant to try this spot out because as a Vietnamese person, I have pretty high standards for pho. Located on 23rd, there's a lot to do before and after you grab a bite here, and just like so many other shops, it's really cute inside. With plenty of spacing, the restaurant feels more like a home turned restaurant and I love it. I got their banh mi and broth, but my friend got their pho. First, their banh mi was pretty standard. It wasn't anything out of this world but I would definitely get it again! Their pho on the other hand was pretty unique. It's not anything like I've had in the past (what I consider really authentic, Southern Vietnamese pho), but I still really liked it. It was a sweeter, lighter broth than what you would expect--not so strong on the five spice or richness that you would typically get form beef stock. However, the portion was perfect and it left me wanting more. Overall, as the pho is so different to what I've had, I wouldn't come here for pho if I were craving it, but I would definitely come back for *their* pho (if that makes sense).

I went today as it was listed as a great spot for Pho on the Portland guides and I was a little bummed out. The broth was basic and anything but special. I've had better Pho at chain places. Definitely wish I would have gone somewhere else.