Tank You Very Much, Pho Lantern! My Buffalo Food Find

Okay, Buffalo foodies, listen up! I recently took a little weekend road trip up to Buffalo to visit my college roommate, Sarah. We hadn’t seen each other in ages, and she’s been raving about how much the city has changed. Of course, I had to check it out for myself, and naturally, eating was high on my priority list.

After spending the morning exploring Lafayette Square and taking way too many photos of the architecture (seriously, it's gorgeous!), I was absolutely starving. I was about to head towards the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, but I needed fuel first. That's when I spotted Pho Lantern Restaurant, and something about it just called to me. Plus, who can resist a place with a tagline like "Seafood-focused Vietnamese & Thai dishes offered in a casual space with big fish tanks?"

Walking in, I was immediately greeted by the sight of, you guessed it, massive fish tanks! It definitely adds a fun, unique vibe to the place. The menu was HUGE, which can sometimes be overwhelming, but honestly, everything looked amazing.

I started with the Spring Roll ($4.00) – I went with the classic shrimp and pork option. Super fresh and flavorful, a perfect light bite to start.

For my main course, I was torn between a few things, but ultimately went for the Pho Noodle Soup (large bowl, of course!). I mean, it's in the name, right? But there were so many other options, like the Spicy Beef Noodle Soup or the Udon Noodle Soup. Sarah, who met me for a late lunch, opted for the Pad Thai, and it looked delicious. Next time, that's definitely on my list!

The broth of my pho was rich and aromatic, the noodles were perfectly cooked, and the toppings were fresh and plentiful. I added a squeeze of lime and a dash of chili sauce (they had a whole selection of sauces!) and it was absolute perfection. Sarah loved her Pad Thai; she ate every bite and said it was some of the best she's had in Buffalo.

I also spotted a few other dishes that caught my eye. The CHICKEN WINGS ($12.00) looked incredibly crispy, and the GRILLED PORK, HAM & EGG ON RICE ($16.00) seemed like the perfect hearty meal. And for seafood lovers, they have a SWEET & SOUR CRISPY FISH ($18.00) that looked amazing.

After lunch, Sarah and I took a stroll down to Canalside. The weather was beautiful, and it was great to see so many people enjoying the waterfront. It's amazing how much Buffalo has revitalized its waterfront area.

Honestly, Pho Lantern was such a happy find. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was fun and unique, and the service was friendly. If you're in Buffalo and looking for some seriously good Vietnamese and Thai food (with a side of aquarium vibes), you HAVE to check out Pho Lantern. Tell them I sent you (they won't know who I am, but it'll sound cool!). Seriously though, skip the usual suspects and dive into this flavorful adventure. You won't regret it!