The expanding dining scene in Jersey City recently welcomed a new option, as a Vietnamese restaurant officially started serving patrons late last week.
Ai Pho & Vermicelli replaces the old Big Chef restaurant at 515 Jersey Avenue, offering dine-in, take-out, and delivery options. True to its name, the eatery focuses on pho dishes and options featuring Asian vermicelli noodles, but their menu is quite expansive and includes some unique drinks.
Several varieties of spring and summer rolls highlight the appetizers, but the most prolific part of the menu can be found in their pho options. They include beef broth noodle soup with proteins like fresh eye round steak, grilled pork, shrimp and vegetable, or squid ball.
The restaurant serves several types of bun, or rice vermicelli, featuring grilled sliced pork, chicken, beef roll, or grilled shrimp. Banh hoi, or angel hair vermicelli, is a thin-noodle pasta version of the same dishes, and they both come with chopped lettuce, several vegetables, crushed peanuts on top, and fish sauce on the side.
Ai Pho & Vermicelli lacks a liquor license and is BYOB, but they serve a few interesting non-alcoholic drinks of their own. Chanh Da, or “salty lemonade,” is available to order, as is Thai iced tea, an avocado shake, and several unique carbonated options including a plum soda. Bubble tea options are available for $4 and can be sold to go.
The latest Downtown restaurant is officially open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. So far, they haven’t made their presence known on social media or the web, but they can be contacted at (201) 332-5660 for delivery orders.
