This wonderful restaurant is tucked away in Harvard Square. The quality and service are exceptional. The chef spoke to me about my gluten allergy and explained the care they take in making sure the food is customized to avoid allergic reactions and still retain exceptional flavor. Great place and yes, I will return.
Masmin P.
My go-to place for Vietnamese grilled shrimp vermicelli and sushi. Reasonable prices, quick service, fresh ingredients. The cooked dishes have been a bit disappointing- we've tried various teriyaki and Thai curries now and they have not been compelling. The Korean bibimbap was just okay.
Hector W.
Have been a regular customer and fan of their beef soup until yesterday, when I noticed from my credit card bill that they surreptitiously overcharged tips. I rounded up to about 15%, but they charged me 20% anyway, without any clarification or notification to their customer whatsoever. Immediately disputed, and I will never visit this business again. Look, I understand COVID has been difficult for many restaurants, but that doesn't justify stealing your customer's money. You might get off a few times, but you WILL lose customers and their trust. Go read other Yelp and Google reviews and search for keyword "tips"--you will find many similar examples! Apparently they have a history of overcharging tips!
Elaineee G.
Atmosphere: it's dark in here. Not like a sad dark. Just soft dark lighting. Sometimes I walk by and question if they're open. Attire: casual. No dress code you can wear anything Food: Pho- the broth is so genuine. I'm not Vietnamese but I've had ALOT of pho in my days and I can tell this is beef broth. It's hearty and the spices shine through and I can tell there's not a lot of filler flavors. Spring roll- it's what you expect. Fresh. Pork vermicelli- very flavorful. Very fresh. Nice crunch and savory Fried rice- we got the combo with all topping and it was loaded. Deff a sharing dish. Location: it's right in Harvard square. Very convenient by train and walking. Price: it's what you expect. It's decently priced. Spent about $44 (not including tax) on all the dishes above. Not bad at all. Parking: street parking. Meters are 1 hour limit only. Don't know if there are 2 hour meters around this area. We went on a Tuesday and parking was very easy. There was plenty of street parking. Don't know how it is on weekends as it is in the heart of Harvard square. Overall: I was genuinely shocked at how good the pho broth was. This is my telling point of how good a viet place is. If the pho broth is good, usually everything else should not fall short. The staff is very nice and attentive as well. They are always busy around lunch time and for good reason. If you're in this area and craving viet food deff give this place a visit.
Maricel F.
Never noticed this restaurant until looking up restaurants around Harvard Square online. It was very close to the T and pretty quiet, which was nice, although it was quite dark inside. We were seated very quickly. I got the vermicelli noodles with pork, shrimp, and a spring roll. It came with fish sauce on the side. The crispy spring roll was great! The rest of the meal was good too, although it could have done with a bit stronger flavor since a lot of the ingredients are very light (the greens, bean sprouts, and such). The fish sauce was nice and simple, which is good since I don't normally like fish sauce, though it was almost not flavorful enough. There was a pretty good amount of ingredients on top of the noodles, though there was so much noodle left in the bowl that I ended up with a lot left over after finishing most of the "toppings". I also got the Vietnamese coffee, which I expected to be served drip-style in front of me, but it was just served in a mug, already made. It tasted great anyways (how can it not with condensed milk in it).
Jeanette K.
location: located inside "The Garage" within harvard square. 30 second walk from Harvard T station, so close and convenient. price: Quite good, I ordered the XL beef pho and it was $14-15. The dry dishes were in that price range as well. atmosphere: really busy and cozy. It's a really popular joint with locals and students alike. The waiters are constantly running around but they're easy to flag down. food: The Asian food scene is a bit hidden and hard to find in Cambridge, but this place is such a classic that everyone knows. The quality of the food is always on point and I really enjoy coming here on a colder day. The meat is tender and juicy. You can't really go wrong with anything on the menu. last remarks: try the Durian smoothie! It's so refreshing and tasty
Adina S.
I ordered takeout from Le's on a Thursday night. The restaurant was fairly busy when I went to pick up the food. It was cool how Le's had a separate seating area within the galleria/food hall. It looked like a lot of people were eating pho and I really wish I tried one of their soup dishes. The summer rolls I ordered were just okay - I think there was too much lettuce in there. The vermicelli dish was good, but nothing particularly unique. My favorite part of the meal was actually the peanut sauce - it was a bit thinner than most peanut sauces I've had and had a good flavor. Next time I'm in Harvard Square, I'd consider dining in.
Miranda M.
The flat rice noodles with tofu is amazing! Many good vegetarian options! Portion sizes are massive and I always have leftovers. Highly recommend.
Della S.
The prices here are quite reasonable (small size pho is around $10-11) and you can upgrade to large or XL sizes. I wouldn't necessarily come here if I had a craving for pho though. I remember being a fan of this place when I first visited in 2018, but after my recent visit I think the quality went down. I got their special beef noodle soup which comes with a little bit of every cut of meat (rare eye round, flank, brisket, tripe, tendon). By "a little bit," I really mean a little bit-- there was probably one piece of each type of meat in the broth. They did not give us any sauces at the table and the broth was quite underseasoned, so the meat did not have much flavor. This was the most watered down pho broth I've had. The broth lacked the aroma from various spices that pho broth usually has. The noodle portion was on the smaller side for what I've encountered in different pho shops. I was equally disappointed by their hue special soup dish (I'm guessing it's supposed to be like a bun bo hue). Again, there wasn't that much meat and the broth lacked flavor. Surprisingly, the broth wasn't spicy at all!
Nathan
Quick and reliable pho spot in Harvard Square to satisfy a craving.
I'm glad I can still get my favorite dish (beef with asparagus) despite their location in Allston closing. We came in for some pho on a rainy night and it really hit the spot. Service was friendly and attentive, and their prices can't be beat. I also shared the beef with asparagus with my friend. There's something about the sauce and their giant asparagus that make it so delicious, especially when you douse the rice in the sauce. Can't wait to come back!
Arica B.
Food came out quickly & was delicious. Staff was attentive and friendly. It was a perfect stop for a lunch break!
Solana F.
Honestly, some of the only good asian food you can get in Harvard Square. It's a home-y place to always get reliable food. Highly recommend to anyone who might want a quick bite at a reasonable price in the square, especially during the cold winter months!!
Matthew H.
Le's is a favourite of mine in Harvard Square - great food, great location, and extremely great prices. I've been here countless times in the past, but now that I've fully moved back to Cambridge, I was looking forward to dropping by for a casual dinner. I came by with a friend of mine around 7pm on a Thursday. (As it turned out, this was a bit ironic, since neither of us particularly like pho - their speciality - but as I've found out on my many past visits, Le's has so many more underrated/undiscovered options beyond the noodle soup category.) We shared an order of the crispy spring rolls to start; for my entree, I ordered the grilled pork chop with rice, and for my friend's, the caramelized fish (opted for salmon over catfish). Spring rolls were delicious - a good crisp on the outside, refreshing vegetables on the inside, and overall a good portion size to share, especially for the price. My entree was great, too - pork chop was well-grilled, juicy and tender, although there were some chewy bites in between that marred the overall taste. My friend's salmon was absolutely delicious - the fish was so fresh, and the sauce - a sweet, teriyaki-esque thick glaze - paired so well from the natural flavour of the salmon. Service was a bit lacking, though - it usually took quite a while for us to get the attention of our server, and we also never received the drinks that we ordered during our meal. (Not a big deal, since we were almost finished anyway - but still a little disappointing). Overall, though, food was fantastic as usual, and Le's is so convenient and inexpensive that I probably will be back within the month, at least
Gloria H.
I love Le's! It's my go-to for meeting up with friends in Harvard Square. I usually get their steamed vermicelli (DIY spring rolls). The grilled meats/seafood are delicious and pair perfectly with the vermicelli and vegetables in the rice paper wrapper. I also really like their pho -- the broth and noodles are on point and their meat is high quality. Their appetizers are also great, especially their chicken skewers. During the pandemic, I got takeout from Le's a couple of times for picnics in Harvard Yard. If you plan on eating Le's pho for takeout outside, I would recommend asking for an extra container since it's difficult to add the noodles/meat to the broth without spilling. Le's is my Harvard Square comfort food and never fails to warm me up with savory goodness!
This wonderful restaurant is tucked away in Harvard Square. The quality and service are exceptional. The chef spoke to me about my gluten allergy and explained the care they take in making sure the food is customized to avoid allergic reactions and still retain exceptional flavor. Great place and yes, I will return.
My go-to place for Vietnamese grilled shrimp vermicelli and sushi. Reasonable prices, quick service, fresh ingredients. The cooked dishes have been a bit disappointing- we've tried various teriyaki and Thai curries now and they have not been compelling. The Korean bibimbap was just okay.
Have been a regular customer and fan of their beef soup until yesterday, when I noticed from my credit card bill that they surreptitiously overcharged tips. I rounded up to about 15%, but they charged me 20% anyway, without any clarification or notification to their customer whatsoever. Immediately disputed, and I will never visit this business again. Look, I understand COVID has been difficult for many restaurants, but that doesn't justify stealing your customer's money. You might get off a few times, but you WILL lose customers and their trust. Go read other Yelp and Google reviews and search for keyword "tips"--you will find many similar examples! Apparently they have a history of overcharging tips!
Atmosphere: it's dark in here. Not like a sad dark. Just soft dark lighting. Sometimes I walk by and question if they're open. Attire: casual. No dress code you can wear anything Food: Pho- the broth is so genuine. I'm not Vietnamese but I've had ALOT of pho in my days and I can tell this is beef broth. It's hearty and the spices shine through and I can tell there's not a lot of filler flavors. Spring roll- it's what you expect. Fresh. Pork vermicelli- very flavorful. Very fresh. Nice crunch and savory Fried rice- we got the combo with all topping and it was loaded. Deff a sharing dish. Location: it's right in Harvard square. Very convenient by train and walking. Price: it's what you expect. It's decently priced. Spent about $44 (not including tax) on all the dishes above. Not bad at all. Parking: street parking. Meters are 1 hour limit only. Don't know if there are 2 hour meters around this area. We went on a Tuesday and parking was very easy. There was plenty of street parking. Don't know how it is on weekends as it is in the heart of Harvard square. Overall: I was genuinely shocked at how good the pho broth was. This is my telling point of how good a viet place is. If the pho broth is good, usually everything else should not fall short. The staff is very nice and attentive as well. They are always busy around lunch time and for good reason. If you're in this area and craving viet food deff give this place a visit.
Never noticed this restaurant until looking up restaurants around Harvard Square online. It was very close to the T and pretty quiet, which was nice, although it was quite dark inside. We were seated very quickly. I got the vermicelli noodles with pork, shrimp, and a spring roll. It came with fish sauce on the side. The crispy spring roll was great! The rest of the meal was good too, although it could have done with a bit stronger flavor since a lot of the ingredients are very light (the greens, bean sprouts, and such). The fish sauce was nice and simple, which is good since I don't normally like fish sauce, though it was almost not flavorful enough. There was a pretty good amount of ingredients on top of the noodles, though there was so much noodle left in the bowl that I ended up with a lot left over after finishing most of the "toppings". I also got the Vietnamese coffee, which I expected to be served drip-style in front of me, but it was just served in a mug, already made. It tasted great anyways (how can it not with condensed milk in it).
location: located inside "The Garage" within harvard square. 30 second walk from Harvard T station, so close and convenient. price: Quite good, I ordered the XL beef pho and it was $14-15. The dry dishes were in that price range as well. atmosphere: really busy and cozy. It's a really popular joint with locals and students alike. The waiters are constantly running around but they're easy to flag down. food: The Asian food scene is a bit hidden and hard to find in Cambridge, but this place is such a classic that everyone knows. The quality of the food is always on point and I really enjoy coming here on a colder day. The meat is tender and juicy. You can't really go wrong with anything on the menu. last remarks: try the Durian smoothie! It's so refreshing and tasty
I ordered takeout from Le's on a Thursday night. The restaurant was fairly busy when I went to pick up the food. It was cool how Le's had a separate seating area within the galleria/food hall. It looked like a lot of people were eating pho and I really wish I tried one of their soup dishes. The summer rolls I ordered were just okay - I think there was too much lettuce in there. The vermicelli dish was good, but nothing particularly unique. My favorite part of the meal was actually the peanut sauce - it was a bit thinner than most peanut sauces I've had and had a good flavor. Next time I'm in Harvard Square, I'd consider dining in.
The flat rice noodles with tofu is amazing! Many good vegetarian options! Portion sizes are massive and I always have leftovers. Highly recommend.
The prices here are quite reasonable (small size pho is around $10-11) and you can upgrade to large or XL sizes. I wouldn't necessarily come here if I had a craving for pho though. I remember being a fan of this place when I first visited in 2018, but after my recent visit I think the quality went down. I got their special beef noodle soup which comes with a little bit of every cut of meat (rare eye round, flank, brisket, tripe, tendon). By "a little bit," I really mean a little bit-- there was probably one piece of each type of meat in the broth. They did not give us any sauces at the table and the broth was quite underseasoned, so the meat did not have much flavor. This was the most watered down pho broth I've had. The broth lacked the aroma from various spices that pho broth usually has. The noodle portion was on the smaller side for what I've encountered in different pho shops. I was equally disappointed by their hue special soup dish (I'm guessing it's supposed to be like a bun bo hue). Again, there wasn't that much meat and the broth lacked flavor. Surprisingly, the broth wasn't spicy at all!
Quick and reliable pho spot in Harvard Square to satisfy a craving.
Restaurantji Recommends
I'm glad I can still get my favorite dish (beef with asparagus) despite their location in Allston closing. We came in for some pho on a rainy night and it really hit the spot. Service was friendly and attentive, and their prices can't be beat. I also shared the beef with asparagus with my friend. There's something about the sauce and their giant asparagus that make it so delicious, especially when you douse the rice in the sauce. Can't wait to come back!
Food came out quickly & was delicious. Staff was attentive and friendly. It was a perfect stop for a lunch break!
Honestly, some of the only good asian food you can get in Harvard Square. It's a home-y place to always get reliable food. Highly recommend to anyone who might want a quick bite at a reasonable price in the square, especially during the cold winter months!!
Le's is a favourite of mine in Harvard Square - great food, great location, and extremely great prices. I've been here countless times in the past, but now that I've fully moved back to Cambridge, I was looking forward to dropping by for a casual dinner. I came by with a friend of mine around 7pm on a Thursday. (As it turned out, this was a bit ironic, since neither of us particularly like pho - their speciality - but as I've found out on my many past visits, Le's has so many more underrated/undiscovered options beyond the noodle soup category.) We shared an order of the crispy spring rolls to start; for my entree, I ordered the grilled pork chop with rice, and for my friend's, the caramelized fish (opted for salmon over catfish). Spring rolls were delicious - a good crisp on the outside, refreshing vegetables on the inside, and overall a good portion size to share, especially for the price. My entree was great, too - pork chop was well-grilled, juicy and tender, although there were some chewy bites in between that marred the overall taste. My friend's salmon was absolutely delicious - the fish was so fresh, and the sauce - a sweet, teriyaki-esque thick glaze - paired so well from the natural flavour of the salmon. Service was a bit lacking, though - it usually took quite a while for us to get the attention of our server, and we also never received the drinks that we ordered during our meal. (Not a big deal, since we were almost finished anyway - but still a little disappointing). Overall, though, food was fantastic as usual, and Le's is so convenient and inexpensive that I probably will be back within the month, at least
I love Le's! It's my go-to for meeting up with friends in Harvard Square. I usually get their steamed vermicelli (DIY spring rolls). The grilled meats/seafood are delicious and pair perfectly with the vermicelli and vegetables in the rice paper wrapper. I also really like their pho -- the broth and noodles are on point and their meat is high quality. Their appetizers are also great, especially their chicken skewers. During the pandemic, I got takeout from Le's a couple of times for picnics in Harvard Yard. If you plan on eating Le's pho for takeout outside, I would recommend asking for an extra container since it's difficult to add the noodles/meat to the broth without spilling. Le's is my Harvard Square comfort food and never fails to warm me up with savory goodness!