Really enjoyed my dinner here. The food is excellent, especially the duck curry, which pack a ton of flavor. It has a modern, lively atmosphere that gets pretty energetic during peak hours. A great, reliable staple in the neighborhood for a fun night out with good food.
Vietnamese restaurant
OBAO
Hell's KitchenManhattan


Hell's Kitchen
Manhattan
The brief
About OBAO
Killer Vietnamese BBQ & small plates in Hell's Kitchen — cocktails are legit, vibe's packed; 4.7 stars for a reason.
Health inspection
NYC DOHMH Grade C
Score30(lower is better)
Inspected12/18/2025
Grade C indicates serious violations. The restaurant is subject to accelerated re-inspection by the DOHMH.
Community Rating
4.7
out of 5
8,727 community reviews
Rating aggregated from community reviews across platforms. Read full reviews on Google or Yelp for detailed diner experiences.
Reviews
What diners say about OBAO
15 verified Google reviews
4.9
15 reviews
- 5★
- 14
- 4★
- 1
- 3★
- 0
- 2★
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AMAZING TIME! Jennie i think was our server and he was so nice, considerate, and funny! everyone there was super nice. the inside looked so pretty and the food was amazing. big portions for pretty good prices. the mocktails are really yummy and they make them look so pretty. my friends and i got each mocktail and shared them and they were so good. food is a bit spicy for low tolerance people but it's so so good. i got the creamy coconut noodles. there's a $30 minimum per person but if u get a cocktail/mocktail and an entree, which is what we all did, it's not bad. overall great experience and i would come again!!!
OBAO more like OWAO because my friend and i had the most wonderful and tasty thai/ vietnamese meal here. Our server Jimmy was a kind gentleman that recommended us the Obao platter.<br><br>I thoroughly enjoyed the dish and loved the sauce especially. Reminded me of the buncha I had in Vietnam.<br><br>Would love to visit again and try their other options as well. Kam on and kokunkab OBAO!
The food was exceptional. We ordered the chicken pad thai and the green curry chicken, and both were packed with flavour — especially the green curry, which was incredible. Jimmy was very attentive and quick throughout the meal. The only downside was that the restaurant was quite warm, so definitely don’t wear anything too heavy lol. Overall, it was an amazing experience!
Amazing experience at Obao! Nate provided top notch service, with recommendations, directions on the best way to enjoy our dishes, and compassion and humor to boot! The food was delicious, with incredible flavor, spice and presentation. The drinks were unique, strong and fresh. We will definitely be back!
Jennie made our experience at Obao Noodle & Barbecue absolutely amazing! My best friend and I came in to celebrate my belated birthday, and from start to finish everything was pleasant, smooth, and welcoming. She had such a great energy super friendly, attentive, and just an overall vibe that made the night feel even more special.<br><br>I ordered the Vietnamese chicken wings, Pho Bo, and a Thai iced tea, and everything was delicious. The wings were flavorful, the pho was rich and comforting, and my Thai iced tea was perfect. My best friend had the drunken noodles and loved them as well.<br><br>Jennie’s service really stood out—she was warm, professional, and made us feel genuinely taken care of without ever feeling rushed. It’s rare when great food and great service come together so naturally, but she made it happen. Thank you for helping make my birthday celebration such a great one. We’ll definitely be back!
Had an amazing dining experience at OBAO with my husband! From the moment we walked in, the ambience felt elegant and welcoming—perfect for a relaxed yet special night out.<br>Our server, Jennie, was fantastic. She checked on us frequently and made sure we were comfortable throughout the meal, which really elevated the experience.<br>We tried a few drinks, and they were honestly some of the most unique, delicious, and perfectly strong cocktails we’ve had in a while. For food, we ordered the crispy spring rolls, crispy pork belly, short rib pho, and crab fried rice—everything was flavorful and well-prepared. Each dish stood out in its own way, and we truly enjoyed every bite.<br>Overall, a wonderful experience with great food, drinks, and service. Definitely a place we’d come back to! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jennie was awesome. We informed the staff that we had a show to attend to and they were quick and expedited our orders.<br><br>The ambiance was fun and vibes.<br><br>The food is a mix of Vietnamese and Thai. We had the calamari and spring rolls. The spring rolls were refreshing and perfect.<br><br>We were a table of 8 people with a 6 year old. Pad see ew was decent. Vietnamese pork chop not too sweet in the marinade with a great.<br><br>Nice spice to the bun bowl. Dont be turned off to the blood. It was cooked well.<br><br>The tofu and eggplant garlic was okay. Mid on the spice level.<br><br>The Pho was good. But served luke warm. The flavor had a great amount of salt and acid.
What an amazing meal! They have excellent vegan and vegetarian options that are clearly marked on the menu. They're also very careful about any allergies! The lunch special is such a great deal too (a drink, appetizer and entree for about $23). Our server Jennie was such a gem, so so kind and helpful :) The vibe in here is also really cool, both cozy and chill-- veryyy pretty decor. We loved it, thank you!!
I had dinner with a group of four other friends today at this place. It's a busy establishment that requires the full party to be present before seating, but we were seated promptly once the time came. The atmosphere inside was warmly lit, quite welcoming, and the climate was very comfortable (though one friend had to put on a coat from sitting under the draft of the air conditioner). During our stay, there was upbeat music complimenting the entire experience.<br>The service was very swift, responsive, and reasonably respectful. We quickly ordered a couple of appetizers after sitting down, received drinking water, and were able to order our entrées shortly after. The appetizers arrived after minimal idling and the entrées arrived before the appetizers were finished, which was a welcome surprise. Massive thanks to Ken for providing the excellent service.<br>My entrée dish was the Drunken Noodles, which were without exaggeration, extremely delicious. The flat rice noodles had soaked up lots of flavor from the tomatoes and dried Thai basil, which was complimented by a well-balanced spiciness that made it hard to resist shoveling bite after bite (experience varies with spice tolerance). For the appetizers, the Kimchee Fries were moderately crispy and well seasoned while the Papaya Salad tasted fresh and surprisingly sweet.<br>Overall, I found this establishment to offer great food for reasonable prices and able to accommodate for individuals and small groups. I highly recommend giving this place a try.
Had a great experience at OBAO!<br><br>We started with Chamisul Original soju which is one of my favorite Korean sojus and was only $15. Surprised to see it on the menu but paired well (to me) with the Vietnamese dishes we ordered.<br><br>For dishes, we ordered the summer rolls, pho bo, and the ka prao kai khai dao. Everything was flavorful and well executed. The pho broth was clean and they gave a hearty amount of meat. The ka prao kai khai dao tasted like a comforting hug and was what I needed on a Sunday night before the work week.<br><br>The food was good, but the service made the experience even better. Jennie took great care of us and really elevated the whole night.<br><br>We will definitely be back!
Ordered takeout and I got the classic pho and the spare ribs, both exceeded my already high expectations based off the great reviews. The spare ribs were one of my favorite appetizers I’ve had at any Vietnamese spot. These are a must try.
We came for our anniversary before a show and had a wonderful experience. Mona was very attentive and had great suggestions for what to order. Must order Short Rib Massaman Curry and crispy pork belly!
Reallyyy good food. The calamari is to die for. Nice ambiance, glad to celebrate my birthday here courtesy to my bestie. Amazing staff, especially Mona. Definitely be coming back!!
I’ve been going here for years and it’s one of my favorite spots in the city. Everything is fresh and full of flavor, and if it says crispy, it’s actually crispy.<br>The tamarind glazed ribs are some of the best I’ve ever had, crispy outside and juicy inside. I also love their happy hour drinks. I wasn’t greeted right away once, but the service after that was totally fine. I’ll definitely be back soon.
Reviews sourced from Google. Displayed for informational purposes. Ratings reflect reviewer opinions at the time of posting.
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OBAO is listed in the Eat Real Food NYC directory — a curated database of healthy restaurants in Manhattan, verified with official NYC Department of Health inspection data.