Cilantro has some new digs and boy are they more comfortable! The old cilantro was so tiny and narrow; the new one is much more open with lots of seating which is great for customers and staff alike.
I most recently visited Cilantro after a cold day spent at the zoo with a girlfriend. You know how when you've been outside for a few hours in the cold and you just really want a big bowl of soup and some hot tea? Enter Cilantro. We both ordered hot tea to start off; they have a decent selection of hot teas including green and jasmine and the new glasses in which they serve the tea are tall glass mugs that are very pretty; a strange detail but these things make my dining experience better! My friend and I commented on how we wanted some for our own places. I ordered the sate with vermicelli and chicken and my friend ordered a noodle bowl. I love how big the bowls are at Cilantro (you definitely get your bang for your buck here), though I feel that I can eat all of my pho without feeling uncomfortably full. I really enjoy the "customization" aspect of the pho at Cilantro, too. They serve it with a side of bean sprouts, cilantro, and lime and offer a few sauces you can add to alter the flavor of the soup.
The food was great and served its "comfort" purpose, and our server was very nice and attentive. I'm not sure why I didn't go to Cilantro more often when I was in college. I kind of regret this now that I don't live in the Clifton area. I will continue to go out of my way to visit!
This isn't authentic Vietnamese food by any stretch, but it's good in it's own way. Â I've probably eaten the entire menu over the past three years. It's a good lunch spot with quick service.
I would recommend the vermicelli noodle bowl with pork fried rolls. Â It's basically a cut up spring rolls on top of a bed of noodles and lettuce. Â The goi cuon (fresh spring roll) is also pretty good. Â (Not firmly and uniformly wrapped like at authentic Viet restaurants and doesn't have basil, but it gets you 80% of the way there.).
If you're in the mood for banh mi, I recommend the vietnamese sausage over the other meats. Â The other meats seem a little funny tasting. The pho doesn't have the depth of traditional pho, but hits the spot if you're looking for a noodle soup. I'd recommend the spicy broth over the other soups.
Overall a decent spot. Â The folks who work there are friendly, fast and attentive. Â Just don't go in expecting truly authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
Maybe I'm just not a fan of pho, but Cilantro was just ok.
Cilantro is a small place that had quite a few couples on dates there. Â I order the pho (first time I've ever had pho) and wasn't too impressed. Â I got chicken with it and I thought it was dry and didn't have much flavor to it besides what was in the broth. Â The service was quick which made me think the chicken wasn't really made to order. Â They do offer some sides that you can put in the pho to add some flavor, heat, or texture. Â The amount of food given was fair for the price (6.50), but I was still hungry after eating a little bit of chicken and some noodles.
Cilantro does have other offerings that I'll probably come back and try again. Â If it is better then maybe I'll update the review.
Thai vietnamese fusion = I'm down! Â I was looking for a healthy and quick dinner when my brother in law suggested Cilantro. Â When I got there and started going through the menu, nothing really was sounding that good (mainly because I wasn't that hungry). Â I ended up going for the chicken sate' stir fry. Â I asked for it with rice and they were out of rice (whaaaaaaaaat?), so I went for the crunchy noodles. Â I slapped some sriracha on that puppy and was ready to go.
I tell ya, it was good. Â I had never had crunchy egg noodles before and, my goodness, I'm glad I decided to give them a try. Â It was the perfect mix of spicy and healthy and we were in and out within 45 minutes. Â Good experience!
I haven't been to the new location (a short 20 yards from the Clifton address; on McMillan next to Baba Budhan's) but this is one of my fave places to get a filling meal on this side of campus that is not a burrito or sandwich.
If you haven't had Vietnamese, I suggest checking out Cilantro-the staff is friendly and knowledgeable and very willing to help you order if you're not sure what you're getting in to. Â I think I've had the noodle bowl nearly every time I've been. Â Good stuff.
Just checked out Cilantro's new location. Â The paint's barely dry, and the place looks great. Â Solid wood tabletops and bar, four times the seating space, and a huge kitchen. Â And tonight they were packing them in with nearly every seat filled. Â And while they were having some trouble learning their new POS system, they were doing very well keeping up.
Their food is still the same great quality it was before the move, perhaps better now that they have a new kitchen full of new equipment. Â The new dishes give a fresh clean look, and proper plastic chopsticks are much better than disposable wood ones.
This is probably the worst Vietnamese restaurant i've ever been to. The rice noodles in my pho was not well-cooked, it was very hard to cut them as well as to chew. The broth was also very bland, no taste of the beef stock whatsoever. I gave an extra star for the service and the fried pork rolls.
Review Source:I really appreciated the clearly stated vegan options on the menu. The food was tasty and the food came out quickly.
I was much less thrilled with my service. The guy serving us, appeared to be a manager because he was dressed in business casual, was attentive to the point of being incredibly annoying. He literally came to our table AT LEAST 8 times over a 40 minute period. He took my cup of water from me to refill after I drank 1/8th of the glass, and apologized for not filling it sooner. In addition to the frantic water refills, he actually asked me 3 separate times if I needed more napkins. I had the napkin I was using in my lap, another clean and untouched napkin very visible on the table, and I still had to politely refuse his napkin service multiple times!
Please, bro, let me eat in peace. Don't shove napkins down my throat. LET IT BE.
My wife and I are west-coast transplants and the first thing we did when we got internet at our apartment in Cincinnati was look up "pho" on yelp. Cilantro was the closest place that came up so off we went.
My wife got the rare beef pho, and it was pretty subpar to be honest. As other reviewers have said it was not authentic, the broth seemed off but it was hard to articulate why. I thought it was too sweet and my wife said it seemed like it was too "fishy". The noodles, aroma, everything was just not what we are used to back home.
I got the vermicelli chicken bowl, and it was great. I'll probably come back for it again some time. I'd recommend cilantro for charm, atmosphere, service, and price, but not for the pho, if that's your bag.
My friend and I were down in Clifton and wanted to eat some Asian food. We'd heard good things about Cilantro from friends at UC, but hadn't yet tried it. I was a little worried when I walked in and saw that there wasn't anyone who was Asian working behind the counter, but the food was really wonderful!
I'm no expert on Vietnamese food, so I can't speak to the authenticity of the place, but wow what a great meal for cheap! We both had the vermicelli noodles bowl (mine with fried veggie rolls, and hers with shrimp), and it came filled with lots of toppings, fresh lettuce and vermicelli. The house sauce, in combination with duck sauce and chili paste made a delicious seasoning for the dish. Overall, the meal was light but filling and flavorful and definitely inexpensive! A+ from a college girl!
That being said, this place definitely fits in with the college-vibe, so don't go in expecting anything super upscale and fancy. It's just a good, solid place to eat for lunch or a light dinner. Seating is limited, either along the walls or at small tables. But I mean, you're there to eat, not sit, so enjoy the food!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Cilantro. Â It's one of my favorite restaurants in Cincinnati. Â I always get the vermicelli noodle bowl with fried pork rolls. Â Sometimes with extra rolls because they're sooo addictive. Â It comes with noodles, lettuce, bean sprouts, shredded carrot, peanuts, and their house dressing (I THINK it's Nuoc cham - sweet and savory). Â The service is always good and quick and it's pretty cheap - I think the noodle bowls are ~$6.
Review Source:It was our 12th Anniversary and my wife and I wanted to go someplace different. I looked here on Yelp for something with an Asian cuisine and landed on Cilantro. My first impression from walking in was that of a restaurant I visited in S.F. some years back that was Excellent. The place was a bit of a hole but the food was excellent and endorsed by Julia Childs.
Well, I have to say I am pretty sure Cilantro wouldn't get the same endorsement.
Cilantro was dirty. The counter was sticky and there was dust on the light fixtures a half inch thick.
The food was hit and miss. I hit and my wife missed. I had the vermicelli noodles with chicken and it was fresh and very tasty. Loved the mixture of textures and the sauce you pour on it was slightly sweet and a good mixture of salt.
My wife had the ginger stir-fry bowl with pork. First off it WAS NOT FRIED, it was boiled or microwaved. The pork had a grey color to it, all the vegetables were soft and the dish had an odd smell. We tried to eat it. I traded my wife so that we both could taste each dish and she, of course, loved the vermicelli. But, again, the stir-fry was more of a sit-boil.
When we mentioned the situation to the waitress, she really didn't apologize, defend, or offer any explanation as to why the dish was crappy. Nor did they offer to take it off the check.
I will not be back.
As being a 5 year resident of Clifton, I like to think I have a decent grasp of the food scene on McMillan/Clifton/Calhoun. Cilantro, I'm pretty sure, is my hands down favorite.
I have been there multiple times in the past year and am always satisfied. I don't always get the Pho either, but I am always tempted. Their noodle bowls are quite good too, with an excellent balance of spice, temperature, and texture. I love how tight and compact it is, with little separation between the chefs and the customers.
It's a very friendly environment too, everyone will feel like a regular. Oh yeah, the price is beyond fair. You will truly enjoy this place.
(I'm just afraid Pho Lang Thang will alter my thoughts on this place when I try it, but I know it will always have a place in my heart)
I think I've been spoiled by Pho Lang Thang in Findlay Market and a Ban Mi shop back home in Oregon. This little college joint in Clifton was nice enough, but the food, staff, and atmosphere really didn't stack up to what I have, apparently, come to expect from a Vietnamese experience.
My noodle bowl had vermicelli as the bulk of the dish, and something about the texture or thinness of the noodle was really pretty off putting for me. The spices were ok, but the whole time I just wanted it to be something else, or have something else in it, to liven it up.
They only serve ban mi on the weekend it seems, which was slightly disappointing since that description and some photos was what I was really craving. In all reality, I just had left overs from my boyfriend's meal last night, and his chicken stir fry with the sate sauce was pretty good. Better than my noodle bowl for sure; I think I still prefer another more substantial noodle, but the taste and application in his dish was good (he thought it was spicy, but it was just right for me).
The seating is limited and tight, and while the staff was perfectly friendly, they seemed to be college students, and my quota for hearing the work 'like' inserted into sentences was met in about five mintues.
There were med student types, international students, old and young there when we went. There were also many coming in for take out. I don't mean to sound disparaging by saying my experience was disappointing...this is a perfectly good college joint, reasonably priced, and near the university. I think I have found, however, that despite being a grad student at UC, "college" places have much more appeal when they are part of the center of your world.
As soon as I've moved away from my own college town, the experience of eating at "my favorite place on campus" upon my return has always been a bit bittersweet and unsatisfying. It may be the whole picture, that can't be replicated, that I needed to be experiencing, to love those places again? That said, maybe it's just not being in the true UC milieu, that contributes to my impression.
Certainly try this place, or get take out if you're not a fan of close quartered restaurants, but if you don't love it...don't swear of Vietnamese food...just head down the street to Pho Lang Thang and see what else the cuisine has to offer.
Native of Clifton/Cincinnati and never experienced Cilantro until just last year. Now I know what I was missing - sooo good - vermicili noodle bowl with chopped up pork rolls - so good!
Note: It's easy to miss and drive right by. Pay attention. It's across from Hughes High School between two other shops on Clifton Avenue.
OMG I miss this place!
Cilantro was right down the road from my old apartment. My man and I would found time to mosey down yonder every few weeks to nom on some super good Pho. I particularly loved this place in the winter. The close quarter, hot soup, spicy smells all help to chase away the bone deep chill that sank into me all too quickly. I am, after all, a southern "belle". I don't "DO" winter.
But any time of year, this is a great place. I highly recommend the pork kabob as an appetizer to share. Loved it!
I got introduced to this place a few years back by a friend and I'm very glad for it. Cilantro has great portions for the price. Both the Sate and Pho are great, I usually prefer them with vermicelli noodles and thin slices of beef. I'm not the biggest fan of spicy food, but even the sate here tastes great and is well worth the small bit of torture I endure from the heat.
I highly recommend, especially on a cold or rainy day.
If I could have a standing order at any place in the city, it would be here. Thursdays at 7, vermicelli noodle bowl with fried pork rolls. Pick-up, please.
Now, based on sheer sample size (definitely 30+ visits) there have been some snafus: once they forgot to add the pork rolls and I had to drive back (I was NOT happy), once the pork tasted like breakfast sausage (I assume they ran out & tried to improvise), and there have been 1 or 2 times when the ingredients were inconsistent. Fine, whatever. I took statistics, I know things won't ALWAYS be perfect.
The place itself is basically a hole-in-the-wall, finding parking is a bitch, and if there are more than 3 people in your party, you're SOL. But the food is excellent, prices are reasonable, and the service is always friendly.
See you Thursday.
I mean, who doesn't LOVE the flavor and smell of cilantro (the herb)? I mean, really?
This quaint little hole in the wall restaurant immediately won a star simply because of its name. (See above) So I see yourself questioning the validity of my review....but trust me, I'm a doctor. No really...trust me. This review will be simple, like the restaurant. Simple, but done right.
Yummy Vietnamese soupy goodness is all I can say. Great on price, great on flavor, and the staff is very attentive and available for your dining needs. They lose a star because of the difficulty to park in that specific area with the mixture of the UC campus, the residential community, and other commercial spots. However, an added bonus is that they cook your meal at the diner-like bar directly in front of you, so you know you're getting a freshly prepared meal. Try their soup dishes, but be sure to add all the fixings for full flavor. Enjoy!
Don't get me wrong!!! This is a good place to eat! My boyfriend and I often go at least once a month. One of my favorite places to get pho, but it has its downsides.
The pho:
You get a lot for what you pay for, and its a gratuitous serving! :)
...but the taste always seems inconsistent. Sometimes the pho broth is just fine. Other times it might just be a little off with a slightly weird taste...
Also, it isn't open on Sundays and Saturdays are really iffy because of late opening times. I think its not open till noon? Its a real bummer because those are times I sure would like to be enjoying some pho!
All in all its a good place to eat for cheap, lots of choices too!!
This place was once a hot spot for me to get Vietnamese food. From the past few times I've visited, I think they changed something up. The Pho is not as enticing, and honestly - quite salty. I'm still a huge fan of the bun salad -they do that best.
From a restaurant experience standpoint, it can get incredibly busy in there during school season. They don't have real seats, so if you plan on going with more than 3 people - it's not a good place to really do that.
Eating at Cilantro is a regular occurrence for me. Â Delicious, authentic, inexpensive food, big portions, and a convenient location -- what more do you need?
The menu is fairly small but several of the dishes are highly customizable. Â For their stir fry, you can select the type of meat or tofu, type of noodle, and sauce. Â Every combination I've tried has been great, so don't hesitate to try whatever sounds good to you.
Another must-try menu item is the pho -- a delicious soup with chicken, beef, or meatballs, noodles, and toppings (bean sprouts, jalapeño, and cilantro).  The portion is large and they'll even bring extra toppings if you ask.
There is nothing intimidating about eating at Cilantro -- even if you've never had Vietnamese food before. Â The staff is also happy to answer any questions you may have about the menu.
I encourage you to stop by the restaurant that has become one of my favorites in Cincinnati.
Based on rave reviews from my friends and other Yelpers, I really had high hopes for Cilantro; however, I am sad to say that this is not the best Vietnamese I've ever had. In fact, it isn't even close.
I ordered my usual: beef pho and iced coffee. The iced coffee was pretty good, though a little overpriced. I feel like I paid $2.50 for a styrofoam cup of ice with a teenie bit of coffee and condensed milk. I've paid less and gotten much more at other Vietnamese restaurants.
The pho was where Cilantro really missed the mark. I had 5 (yes, I counted) small pieces of beef in my pho. What I enjoyed was that the beef was obviously rare when they put it in (which is pretty authentic to me, even though I prefer to put the beef in myself) and it was very tender without being fatty or grizzly.
But, honestly, there was something wrong with the pho broth itself. I tried it without putting any sauces in it, just to figure out how good it was on its own. It tasted... weird... unlike any pho broth I've ever had. And not in a good way. It was almost sweet, I guess. I put a bunch of sriracha, chili sauce, lime, cilantro, and basil in it, but it still had this odd taste that totally threw me off. (Also, the basil they had given me was very obviously old, as it was almost leathery and very much wilted. It didn't have much flavor. The cilantro - which is my favorite herb, so I like to put a lot of it in my food - was also old and I had to ask for more because they gave me only one stalk which had barely 6 or 7 little leaves on it.) I also felt extremely sick after I left (I never, ever get ill from ethnic food) but it soon dissipated.
What I do appreciate about Cilantro is the look of the place. I'm used to large cities' hole-in-the-wall ethnic restaurants where all there is room for is a counter, a kitchen, and a few stools. This place visually takes me back to eating Indian or Chinese or Italian in Boston or NYC. Also, the portions are absolutely huge and worth the money... if it tasted good.
I feel like I'm breaking all of my friends' hearts by giving Cilantro such a low rating, but I can't help it. I mean, I had better Vietnamese food in Kentucky than in Cincinnati! To all of my Cilantro-loving friends: I'm sad to say that doubt I'll be back. Don't hate me for it!
Business is mostly takeout, so the place is small with little atmosphere. Don't go for a fine dining experience, go for really good Vietnamese soup. It's especially nice for a rainy day.
I've become somewhat addicted to the tofu pho. It's a bit of a problem. But no so much, as it's cheap and quite nutritious.
I should point out that the selection is quite limited. If you want a good representation of a variety of Vietnamese food, Cilantro may not be the best place. But if you just want some really good noodle soup, stop by.
This completely ruined my Vietnamese cuisine experience.
The Vietnamese coffee did not taste like the way it was suppose to be. Should have a very strong taste but this crap was probably watered down and tasted like syrup was used rather than condensed milk.
I was surprised when I looked at the meat options for pho because at the prices they were charging, it was a complete rip. I understand that there isn't much competition in the area but these prices are 150% more than your average Vietnam dish.
I grew up on this stuff and have been sorely disappointed.
Never coming here again.
Stopping by at Cilantro this weekend for the first time since moving back to Cincy reminded me of how I love it! Â Fresh food, friendly service, awesome prices = happiness. Â I generally get the food to go, since the space is small, but the food is always ready in a jiffy. Â An added bonus is that it's way healthier than most restaurant food. Â I'm a big fan of the sate as well as the vermicelli noodles, and the Vietnamese soft roll is oh-so tasty and refreshing.
This is a Clifton must-try! Â In the past when I was in school, we used Cilantro's for events and got great deals for large portions of food. Â It's definitely something to consider if you are having an event and want to serve something a little different.
I wasn't sure what to make of Cilantro when I walked in. A giant open kitchen area with space to sit at the bar and a few cramped tables. Really? This is one of the best eats in Clifton?
IT IS! The food is flavorful and the portions, bountiful. I never eat my whole dish and have to bring it home where, happily, it reheats really well. It's always fresh and cooked right in front of you, which is fun to watch - if you can see over the semi-tall counter when you're sitting down.
If there are any decorations on the wall, I can't remember. You're not there for the ambience. Cilantro is also a little small and can be a little cramped when it's peak eating hours. However, the food is so good, you almost don't care - almost.
My personal recommendation: The Vermicelli Noodle Bowl with either Veggie or Pork Fried Rolls. Everyone I know who's come with me to Cilantro tries this when I get it, and then orders it the next time they go. Trust me on this, it's fantastic.
It's easy to miss this restaurant as you are driving down Clifton Ave., but make the effort to stop and find it. It's cheap, it's delicious, it's awesome.
This is not Vietnamese food.
I'm Vietnamese. Â I enjoy a good bowl of steaming pho (Vietnamee noodles) especially on a rainy day. Â Yelp had great reviews - therefore we trudged in the rain to get to Cilantro. Â
The bf and I ordered eggrolls, spring rolls and a bowl of pho to share. Â Each order of the rolls consisted of ONE roll for a $1.70. Â Even restaurants in San Francisco don't rip you off like that. Â As for the bowl of pho, they used the wrong noodles and the broth was no where near what pho soup is suppose to be. Â I'm definitely glad that I have a lot more options where I live. Â Not to knock the restaurant - I was just very disappointed by the food.
FYI - Should you venture out to this restaurant - parking might be difficult.  And  be sure to order more than one order of rolls should you be eating with others.
Great, great stuff.
The menu is limited and the place is small, but the food is always flavorful and interesting. Â Pho is my usual choice, and the staff is always happy to pack it up for me to take back to my office. Â If soup isn't your thing, they have some tasty rolls and stir fry as well. Â Â
Wish I had a place this good near campus when I was a student.
Cilantro is in the campus area of Clifton...near a lot of other restaurants and around the corner from Bogarts.
The price is a bargain, the owner is very cute (call me if you see this!) and it's very unique. My biggest reco is to BEWARE OF THE SPICY! The sauces on the table are very spicy and you should add them sparingly.
The location doesn't have much ambiance - it's very tiny - but it's kind of fun to sit at the counter. Darin was a treat (as I mentioned) and the price is less than $10.
I really enjoyed it - it's not someplace I'd go often unless I was in the area moreso. For me it's a drive and a fight with parking but if you're in Clifton - check it out! Vietnamese is a fun change.
Cilantro: 3 stars from the Food Hussy
I recently moved to Cincinnati from LA and I was craving PHO. Â
In LA there's a pho place every 5 miles. Â I'd never really had a bad experience with the food...unless there was a fly in my food.
So I got to the place and I ordered an egg roll and pho. Â The egg roll was good but not very authentic.
When my pho came, it smelled great and the soup base lived up to it's aroma. Â It was good but nothing memorable. Â AND, the noodles didn't do it for me. Â It had a harder texture and just wasn't the right type of noodles.
Had a very tasty stop here while I was in Cincinnati briefly on my way to somewhere else. Â Tasty tasty tasty. Â The "lime drink" is, well, limeade, but is very tasty as well. Â I can't really recommend anything specific, but my vegan noodles with tofu and vegetables were tasty, and my boyfriend liked his soup.
I was both surprised and unsurprised to find out that the owner/operator of Cilantro is the son of the people who run Little Saigon in Dayton. Â Surprised because it seemed an odd coincidence, since I've eaten at Little Saigon, and unsurprised because they're both very good.
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