Solid choice with plenty of space for family and kids. Excellent service as well. Food is quite good but nothing special, the taste is consistent every time I visit.
Italian restaurant
Pho Ong Tay Pho & Pasta Bar - Italian restaurant in Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
+33
The Story
About This Place
The concept alone earns a double-take: phở and fresh pasta on the same menu, served entirely outdoors on a garden terrace that catches the late-afternoon sun. The restaurant sits down an alleyway off Nguyễn Văn Hưởng—finding it requires navigating a turn that most newcomers miss on the first pass. There are no indoor seats; the open-air setting is the whole premise, not an amenity.
The pasta is the stronger draw. The truffle tortellini with duck sauce has pulled repeat visitors back across multiple visits, and the spaghetti alla Amatriciana consistently ranks among the better versions available in Saigon. Fresh pasta is made on-site, though execution can vary—some orders arrive properly al dente and seasoned, others less so depending on the evening. The pomelo salad is a reliable opener, served on a generous plate with clean acidity that cuts through richer mains. Fish and chips rounds out the menu as a consistent option, arriving crispy.
The phở side of the menu holds its own: a standard broth bowl alongside a dry pho version for those who prefer noodles without soup. The dual identity pulls a crowd that runs from expats looking for a pasta fix to locals curious about the Italian-Vietnamese crossover. Families appreciate the open space and unhurried pace; service is consistently described as attentive across visits of different sizes.
Pricing tilts higher than comparable Thao Dien spots—sauce and pasta are listed separately, pushing individual plates toward USD $13. The west-facing terrace makes early evening the natural peak window: the light softens after 5 PM and the temperature follows. The kitchen is dark on Tuesdays.
truffle tortellini with duck saucespaghetti alla amatricianadry phopomelo saladwest-facing sunset terrace
al frescogardencasualrelaxedopen-air
Reviews
4.6(284)
I found this place on Google and got excited because it said the pasta was home made and fresh, but honestly, it was a bit disappointing. My shrimp pasta was overcooked, very salty, and only had three shrimp. The pasta itself was too hot to enjoy, while my husband’s dish arrived completely cold though to be fair, the flavor was actually quite good. He also ordered a mango smoothie, which was so thick it was hard to drink, we had to order water for mixed it a little bit… We expressed our dissatisfaction, but unfortunately the way the staff handled the situation wasn’t great. Considering the prices, I truly expected a better experience. It’s a shame, because with better service I might have given this place another try. Honestly, the only thing that was really good was the passion fruit juice 😅 In my opinion, it’s one of those places I wouldn’t recommend: high prices for food that don’t match the quality, taste, or service.
Earlier in the evening just wanted some small bites.. and I accidentally ordered the wrong thing. Wrong means - no taste ..The crispy chicken corns had no sauce and were super dry. The oven-baked potatoes didn’t have any rosemary and were just dry, like they were fried in oil, kind of like French fries.
Pho Ong Tay Pho & Pasta Bar. What a concept. Good for that fresh pasta fix and al fresco (outdoors dining). No indoor seats. Casual fare and no egregious faults… a bit pricy as they charge for the sauce and then pasta on top of it which brings an individual entrée up to almost USD $13 taxes in. Pasta cooked the way Vietnamese would like it, not a world traveler. Maybe can specify. Didn’t ask. Five stars anyways.
Ordered the pasta and fish and chips. Pasta was decent, a tad bit salty but nothing to write home about. Fish and chips was super crispy. Fries was standard fare. The place has potential, but they let the garden facing area go dry and look terrible. Service was good.
Visit Tips
Visiting Pho Ong Tay Pho & Pasta Bar
- ✓
Open late: Doors stay open past 0 AM on at least one day — handy for after-work dinners.
- ✓
Breakfast available: Opens by 8 AM — a viable breakfast stop in Thao Dien.
- ✓
Reservations: Call +84 768 931 067 to book — recommended for weekend dining.
- ✓
Best for: family dinner, early evening dining, date night, weekend dinner.
gallery
40Photos
Food
Pho
Grilled Shrimp Pasta
Grilled Shrimp Pasta with Edible Flowers
Vibe
The image depicts an indoor dining area where several groups of people are seated at wooden tables enjoying a meal together. The decor includes shelve
The exterior of a Vietnamese Pho & Pasta Bar named 'Pho Ong Tay'. The establishment has an inviting facade with hanging plants, dried corn cobs, and s
Other
Common Questions
Frequently Asked
- Does Pho Ong Tay Pho & Pasta Bar have outdoor seating?
- The restaurant is entirely outdoors with no indoor seats. The west-facing terrace catches the sunset, making early evening the most popular time to visit.
- What's the best dish at Pho Ong Tay Pho & Pasta Bar?
- The spaghetti alla Amatriciana is repeatedly praised as 'the best in Saigon.' The truffle tortellini with duck sauce also draws repeat visitors, and the pomelo salad is a reliable starter.
- Is Pho Ong Tay Pho & Pasta Bar good for families?
- Multiple reviews cite the open space and unhurried pace as family-friendly. Service is consistently described as attentive.
- Is Pho Ong Tay Pho & Pasta Bar hard to find?
- The restaurant sits down an alleyway off Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, and reviewers warn there is 'a turn that most newcomers miss on the first pass.'
- Does Pho Ong Tay Pho & Pasta Bar serve Vietnamese food as well as Italian?
- The menu includes both phở and a dry pho (noodles without broth) alongside fresh pasta dishes. Reviewers describe it as an Italian-Vietnamese crossover concept.
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