Pho 75 in Baltimore: Beef Broth Done Right on Lombard Street
Pho 75 is a counter-service Vietnamese restaurant on East Lombard Street in Fells Point that specializes in pho, banh mi, and com tam (broken rice). The operation is small, fast, and built around a single strong idea: a beef broth simmered for hours, served in bowls with rice noodles and your choice of protein. This is not a full-service dining room. You order at the counter, take a number, and eat at one of a handful of tables or take your order out.
What Pho 75 Actually Is
A pho-focused counter restaurant where the broth is the centerpiece. The menu is narrow by design. Beyond pho, the kitchen turns out banh mi sandwiches on crunchy baguettes and com tam with grilled meat and a fried egg. Pho 75 does not attempt to be a full Vietnamese restaurant. It executes one thing and does it consistently. The broth itself, which takes most of the day to prepare, is the technical anchor of the operation. Everything else orbits it.
Menu and Pricing
Pho bowls run $8 to $11 depending on protein: beef brisket (tai), rare beef (nam), tendon (gan), and combinations of these. A large bowl, standard portion, sits at $9.50 for single-protein options. Banh mi sandwiches cost $5 to $6.50 and include pate, head cheese, or grilled chicken with pickled carrots, daikon, cilantro, and jalapeño on baguette. Com tam plates, served with grilled pork, chicken, or beef, run $7 to $8.50 and arrive with a fried egg and fish sauce. Prices confirm as of late 2024; verify before visiting, as protein costs fluctuate.
The pho broth itself is the differentiator. Most pho in Baltimore comes from restaurants that open the pot in the morning and simmer it for 4 to 6 hours. Pho 75's broth simmers overnight and into the service window, extracting deep bone and spice flavor without the metallic edge that shortcuts produce. That extended simmer time is why a bowl here tastes fuller than a similar order at a multi-cuisine Vietnamese spot.
How Pho 75 Compares Locally
Pho Thom, also in Fells Point on Eastern Avenue, offers a wider menu (curry, stir-fries, egg rolls) at similar prices and runs a longer broth cycle, but splits focus across more dishes. Pho Nha Trang in Canton emphasizes quantity and comfort; portions are larger and prices slightly higher. Cho Sun, a Korean-Vietnamese hybrid on North Avenue, serves pho alongside pho ga (chicken) and does both reasonably well, but neither with the specificity of Pho 75.
Choose Pho 75 if you want beef pho as the kitchen's main argument. Choose Pho Thom if you want breadth and don't mind trading depth. Choose Pho Nha Trang if you are very hungry and want generous bowls. Choose Cho Sun if you want to eat Korean and Vietnamese in one meal.
Who It Suits and Who It Does Not
Pho 75 works for lunch or dinner if you are nearby and want a fast, correct bowl. It suits people ordering in or taking out better than people looking for a destination meal with table service. The space is utilitarian. Seating is limited and tight. If you need quiet, full table service, or a wide menu, go elsewhere. If you want a single, well-executed bowl of beef pho for under $10, this is the right address.
What the First Visit Involves
Walk in, read the menu board behind the counter, order verbally or point to the protein you want. Pay at the counter. Take your number, find a seat if one is available, or stand near the window. Food typically arrives in 5 to 10 minutes. The bowl comes with bean sprouts, basil, lime, jalapeño, and sriracha on the side. Customize the broth temperature and spice at the table. If you are takeout, your pho arrives in a sealed container, though the broth will cool during transport.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
Pho 75 is open Monday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (verify hours; they occasionally shift). Street parking on East Lombard or in the surrounding Fells Point blocks is available but competitive during dinner service. No dedicated lot. The restaurant is a short walk from the Harbor East Metro station if you use public transit. Takeout is the norm for many customers; the pho travels reasonably well if you eat it within 15 minutes of pickup.
Pho 75 has stayed in the same location for over a decade because it does not chase trends. The broth is why people return.
