Best Pho in Flushing, Queens: A Guide to Every Bowl at Nón Lá Express
- Jul 29
- 5 min read
Looking for the Best Pho in Flushing, Queens?
Ask ten people where to find the best pho in Flushing, Queens and you'll get ten answers — because "best" depends entirely on the bowl you're in the mood for. A rich, loaded bowl on a cold night is a different craving than a clean, light broth on a quick lunch break.
At Nón Lá Express, inside Tangram in Downtown Flushing, there are five different phở bowls on the menu. This guide breaks down what's in each one and who it's for, so you can skip the guessing and order the bowl you actually want.
The Best Pho in Flushing, Queens at a Glance
Ribeye Phở — best for first-timers. Thinly sliced rare steak, rice noodles, rich aromatic broth.
Chicken Phở — best for a lighter bowl. Shredded chicken, rice noodles, herbs, fresh broth.
Phở Special — best for the full traditional experience. Rare steak, brisket, tendon and tripe.
Phở & Grilled — best for smoky flavor. Traditional pho plus grilled pork, chicken or beef.
Phở & Spice — best for heat. Rare steak, chili and aromatic spices in the broth.
Every bowl comes with fresh bean sprouts, Thai basil, lime and jalapeños on the side, so you finish the bowl to your own taste.
What Makes a Great Bowl of Pho?
Pho looks simple, but every element is doing work.
It starts with the broth — warm, aromatic, and poured over soft rice noodles. Your choice of protein adds the heartiness. Then the plate of garnishes on the side is where the bowl becomes yours: bean sprouts for crunch, Thai basil for fragrance, a squeeze of lime for brightness, jalapeños when you want a kick.
That flexibility is why pho works for almost any mood. The same bowl can read light and refreshing or rich and filling depending on how you build it.
The Five Phở Bowls at Nón Lá Express
Ribeye Phở — best for first-timers
Thinly sliced rare steak served over rice noodles in a rich, aromatic broth. This is the classic Vietnamese beef noodle soup and the bowl to order if you've never had pho before — it's the clearest expression of what pho is supposed to taste like, without anything unfamiliar in the bowl.
Chicken Phở — best for a lighter bowl
Shredded chicken, rice noodles and aromatic herbs in a fresh, fragrant broth. All the comfort of pho with a cleaner, more balanced flavor. A good pick for a midday bowl when you don't want to feel weighed down afterward.
Phở Special — best for the full traditional experience
Rare steak, brisket, tendon and tripe in a rich traditional broth. This is the bowl that pho regulars order: every spoonful hits a different texture, and the tendon and tripe are what separate a real Vietnamese beef noodle soup from a simplified version. If you already know you like pho, order this one.
Phở & Grilled — best for smoky flavor
A traditional bowl of pho served alongside your choice of grilled pork, chicken or beef. The char on the grilled meat plays against the clean broth, which makes this the most satisfying option when you're properly hungry.
Phở & Spice — best for heat
Rare steak and rice noodles in a broth built up with chili and aromatic spices. Bold and warming rather than punishingly hot — the spice is layered into the broth instead of dumped on top.
Pho for a Quick Lunch in Downtown Flushing
Finding fast food in Flushing is easy. Finding a quick meal that's actually nourishing is harder.
Nón Lá Express was built around that gap: Vietnamese food that fits a busy schedule without turning into ordinary fast food. Bowls are made to order and served quickly, but the broth, herbs and noodles are the same ones you'd expect from a sit-down Vietnamese restaurant in Queens.
That makes it a practical stop for:
A quick weekday lunch
Dinner after shopping at Tangram
A warm meal before heading home
Takeout on a night you don't want to cook
An easy meal with friends or family
You can eat in, or order online when you need it to go.
What to Order With Your Pho
Pho stands on its own, but a starter or a drink turns it into a full meal.
Start with crispy spring rolls — seasoned pork, shrimp, mushrooms and vermicelli in a golden wrapper with nuoc cham for dipping. Or go lighter with summer rolls: rice paper packed with shrimp, vermicelli, lettuce and herbs, served with peanut sauce.
For something with more punch, the lemongrass chicken wings are marinated in lemongrass, garlic and spices and fried crisp, with a tangy dipping sauce on the side.
To drink, pair your bowl with bold Vietnamese coffee brewed through a traditional phin filter, freshly pressed sugarcane juice, or a salted limeade over ice.
You can see everything on the full Nón Lá Express menu.
Where to Find Pho Near Tangram Mall in Flushing
Nón Lá Express is located inside Tangram at 133-33 39th Avenue, FH17, Flushing, NY 11354.
That puts it a short walk from Downtown Flushing's main corridor and directly inside the mall — so if you're already shopping at Tangram, working nearby, or spending the day in Flushing, you don't have to leave the building to get a proper bowl of pho. Between the phở, rice dishes, appetizers and signature drinks, it works as a full meal stop rather than a snack.
Pho in Flushing, Queens: Common Questions
Where can I find good pho in Flushing, Queens?
Nón Lá Express serves five different phở bowls inside Tangram at 133-33 39th Avenue, FH17, in Downtown Flushing — ribeye, chicken, special, grilled and spicy, each served with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, lime and jalapeños on the side.
Which pho should I order if I've never had it before?
Start with the Ribeye Phở. Thinly sliced rare steak in a clean, aromatic broth is the most straightforward introduction to Vietnamese beef noodle soup, with no unfamiliar cuts in the bowl.
What's the difference between Phở Special and Ribeye Phở?
Ribeye Phở contains only thinly sliced rare steak. Phở Special adds brisket, tendon and tripe alongside the rare steak, giving you a different texture in almost every bite — it's the more traditional bowl of the two.
Is there pho near Tangram mall?
Yes. Nón Lá Express is located inside Tangram itself, in unit FH17, so you can get a bowl of pho without leaving the mall.
Can I order pho online in Flushing?
Yes — Nón Lá Express takes online orders for pickup, so you can have your bowl ready when you arrive.
Ready for Your Next Bowl of Pho in Flushing?
Next time you search for pho near you in Flushing, skip the scroll and pick your bowl instead. Classic Ribeye Phở, lighter Chicken Phở, the fully loaded Phở Special, grilled meat on the side, or extra heat with Phở & Spice — then add herbs, squeeze the lime, and make it yours.
Visit Nón Lá Express inside Tangram, or order online for fresh, comforting pho in Flushing, Queens.
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