[shogun]

A thread to discuss the glories of Pho!

I'd like to kick it off with a mention of Pho that I had recently found in an unlikely place, then wrote about, and shamelessly cross-posted, right down to the emoticons.

On Monday The Froggy Bottom Pub of all places has the best Pho I've yet tasted. Granted, that's not that much Pho to compare against: I haven't been to 4 Sisters yet for example, but this was good stuff, I'm sure, by any standards. Apparently they do a brisk trade (Or just don't make enough!), as they were sold out by the time I got there last week with the friend who told me about it, and this past Monday they had but one bowl left, which the friend and I split along with an order of pork egg rolls. Sounds like they have one meat, which I'm pretty sure was round eye.

So, Froggy's Pho had everything going that a good bowl of Pho should, and is available all day Monday. Added bonus: fun absurdity of going at it sticks and bowls amidst a packed and somewhat rowdy house of Monday 'half price pizza and pitcher special night' -goers. Not that they have the wrong idea nessesarily: Froggy has good pizza!

---

The following posts have been split into separate threads:

Pho Hot (MartyL)
Pho 88 (youngfood)
Pho Hong Anh (squidsdc)
Pho Thang Long (jparrott)
Pho Bistro (cigarnv)
Saigon Bistro (squidsdc)
Pho Hiep Hoa (JPW)

This post has been edited by DonRocks: 10 December 2009 - 04:27 PM

[JPW]

Pho Nguyen. Rockville Pike about 2 miles north of downtown Rockville.

[Heather]

JPW, on Apr 27 2005, 12:18 PM, said:

Pho Nguyen. Rockville Pike about 2 miles north of downtown Rockville.

Where exactly?

There's a pho place in the Ritchie Center 1/2 mile from my house, but we always go a little further up the Pike to Pho 75. They have better broth.

[JPW]

Heather, on Apr 27 2005, 12:25 PM, said:

Where exactly?

There's a pho place in the Ritchie Center 1/2 mile from my house, but we always go a little further up the Pike to Pho 75.  They have better broth.

Never tried Pho 75 there.

Nguyen is North of Shady Grove. Across from King Farm.

[Gastro888]

Pho 75 has the best broth in MD. The pho joint in Eden Center is THE best in the area - AND they serve pho with the sawtooth herb, a nice touch. Pho Nguyen is expensive relative to what a pho joint should be.

There is a Pho Real in the Briggs Chaney Shopping Center in Burtonsville, MD. Prices seem very reasonable - I've never been though.

[mdt]

Just got back from Viet House on Rt. 1 in Alexandria. In the Eden Center the best Pho to get (in my opinioin) is the place next to 4 Sisters that I think goes by the name of Pho Xe Lua.

[Buckinghamilton]

Anyone know anything about the pho place in Herndon by the Staples off of Sunrise Valley Drive and Centerville Rd? Worth a trip? (I work in Reston and eye this one a lot).

[Kanishka]

Last night I had dinner at Nam-Viet Pho 79 (think that was the name...) in Cleveland Park. Have to say I was very disappointed. I had the spicy beef pho, which was mostly spiced via raw jalapenos as opposed to chilis. That gave the dish a ton of heat without flavor; I actually picked the jalapenos out and added sriracha myself. The broth was also not nearly as flavorful as I like it. Also had their special green salad, which came with their "special vinaigrette". Well, maybe a teaspoon of the stuff. Very disappointed by the salad as well...

Decent prices, but next time I want cheap eats in Cleveland Park I'm off elsewhere. My service was really bad (granted I was a one top) and the only thing good about the meal was the book I was reading at the time (the new Ruth Reichl).

K

[JPW]

<burp>
Just returned from lunch at Pho 75 on Rockville Pike and...

I was disappointed.

The broth was watery without a hint of star anise.
The eye of round was of dubious quality.
The jalapenos were dried out and heatless.
Maybe because I'm farang/gaijin (sorry don't know the Vietnamese word) and I got the scraps?

Much prefer Pho Nguyen. Sure, it's about $2 more, but with the lunch special you also get a couple of spring rolls and usually free tea.

I might try Pho 75 again, but it's already way behind in the race.

[Gastro888]

Ooooh, JPW, sorry to hear that! That blows.

Dear JPW, I doubt it's because you're a gai-low (Cantonese) that they gave you the scraps. They probably didn't have the right chef on duty today.

I didn't know you got spring rolls with the lunch special at Pho N. As for the free tea, tea should be free at ANY Asian restaurant, IMHO. It so irks me hen there is a tea charge for standard tea. (Now if it's speciality tea, it's understandable)

[jasonc]

Gastro888, on Apr 27 2005, 10:12 AM, said:

Pho 75 has the best broth in MD.  The pho joint in Eden Center is THE best in the area - AND they serve pho with the sawtooth herb, a nice touch.  Pho Nguyen is expensive relative to what a pho joint should be.

There is a Pho Real in the Briggs Chaney Shopping Center in Burtonsville, MD.  Prices seem very reasonable - I've never been though.

Got a name for that pho place in the Eden Center? I love me some sawtooth herb.

[Jonathan]

the pho 75 in arlington (next to some obscure steak joint named Rays) is the best I've had so far....the one in cleveland park, pho 79 is dreadfiul for pho, but for other stuff is ok.

nother vietnamese soup that is a must try is the shrimp and tamariond soup with tomatoes and pineapples....it is a delicious sweet and sour soup.

[Gastro888]

jasonc, on Apr 28 2005, 01:09 PM, said:

Got a name for that pho place in the Eden Center?  I love me some sawtooth herb.

Pho Xe Lua

It's good stuff. They serve the cafe su da with a thermos of hot water so you can get some refills. Sweeet.

Hmmm...perhaps I shall visit there this weekend.

[mdt]

Gastro888, on Apr 28 2005, 02:14 PM, said:

Pho Xe Lua

It's good stuff.  They serve the cafe su da with a thermos of hot water so you can get some refills.  Sweeet.

Hmmm...perhaps I shall visit there this weekend.

Ah yes, the thermos of hot water. I have still not found another place that does that. BTW, anyone know what that sawtooth herb is called?

[Al Dente]

mdt, on Apr 29 2005, 07:53 AM, said:

Ah yes, the thermos of hot water.  I have still not found another place that does that.  BTW, anyone know what that sawtooth herb is called?

Saw Leaf Herb: Thai name is Pak Chee Fa Rang
Also notice the link for a thai herb which provides natural breast enhancement!
This herb which is sometimes called foreign coriander, culantro and saw tooth herb











Note to Rocks-- Observe proper use of line return spacing above!

[Gastro888]

It's hard to find a place that gives you a thermos of hot water - this pho place is the only one I know of in the area that does that. FYI, sometimes if the price of limes is too high, they substitute lemons instead for the herb plate. I HATE THAT. @#$!

[shogun]

Al Dente, on Apr 29 2005, 08:10 AM, said:

Note to Rocks-- Observe proper use of line return spacing above!

If you start your reply on the same line as '/quote', you get yet another line savings, thus!

[mdt]

Not too busy this morning shogun?

shogun, on Apr 29 2005, 09:24 AM, said:

If you start your reply on the same line as '/quote', you get yet another line savings, thus! 

[squidsdc]

JPW, on Apr 27 2005, 12:18 PM, said:

Pho Nguyen. Rockville Pike about 2 miles north of downtown Rockville.

Sad to say I must have hit it on an off day, or maybe it's just not as good at dinner, but I definitely was unimpressed. The broth, on a good day, at Asian Bistro downtown was much richer and tastier than Pho Nguyen.

[JPW]

Continuing on a theme that was started elsewhere, it's time to talk Pho.
Given that the first thing that Mrs JPW brought home from her new job was a cold and the state of the weather yesterday and today sucked ventworm nut, two consective Pho lunches have been had.

Yesterday - Pho Quyen, Rockville Pike, just across from King Farms. Nice soft aroma and well spiced broth that could be just little bit beefier. The jalepeno slices had no heat, but the eye of round was top notch.

Today - Pho 75, Rockville Pike just North of downtown. Much better beef flavor in the broth than my last experience, but still no hint of the seasonings esp. the star anise. And their onion and jalapeno slices are way too thick.

Judgement - Pho 75 had the better beef flavor in the broth, but its lack of depth in aroma and taste when combined with the better prepared ingredients at Pho Quyen leave my judgement with Pho Quyen. If they could just get some damn jalapenos with heat. Oh well, I guess that is what Sriracha is for.

[Heather]

JPW, on May 20 2005, 12:35 PM, said:

Yesterday - Pho Quyen, Rockville Pike, just across from King Farms. Nice soft aroma and well spiced broth that could be just little bit beefier. The jalepeno slices had no heat, but the eye of round was top notch.

Joe, is that the new place next to Momo Taro?

Pho sounds like just the thing for dinner tonight. Maybe we'll try Miss Saigon's version.

[JPW]

Heather, on May 20 2005, 01:19 PM, said:

Joe, is that the new place next to Momo Taro?

Pho sounds like just the thing for dinner tonight.  Maybe we'll try Miss Saigon's version.

Not sure. North of Redland Rd in a little strip mall with a japanese place next door. It's on the N/E side of the street with a bright red awning, you can't miss it.

[Gastro888]

Oh, JPW, great minds think alike!

Today was a bleah day for moi and I decided to get some pho therapy. Granted the best thing to have when you're under the weather is congee but I'll take what I can get!

My coworker and I went to Pho Real in the Briggs Chaney Shopping Center near the Autopark in Silver Spring, MD/Burtonsville. It's a nice, clean pho joint that also serves spring & summer rolls.

The summer rolls were good and so was the cafe su da (if a bit on the strong side but hell, we all could use a little oomph every now and again). As for the pho, it was very good. We both got the #3 - the toppings were a bit skimpy but I have yet to go to a pho joint where the toppings are overflowing - eh, it is what it is I suppose. Broth was light and not oily. Oh and they have REAL Sriracha - not generic Sriracha in the Sriracha bottle.

The best is in Eden Center and the 2nd best if Pho 75 IMHO. But for a solid bowl of pho, go here.

[DonRocks]

Gastro888, on May 20 2005, 01:54 PM, said:

The best is in Eden Center and the 2nd best if Pho 75 IMHO.  But for a solid bowl of pho, go here.

Pho Xe Lua (literally, "train-sized Pho") in Eden Center became Com Ga Xe Lua ("train-sized chicken and rice" (!)) on April 26th. In addition to offering up the surreal combination of Pho and books on the political/military history of Vietnam (see for yourself), they now feature Chicken Rice Xua Xua - a refreshingly healthy and mild plate of steamed chicken and ginger rice, with side dishes of pickled cabbage and a terrific soup made with tofu and what appears to be bok choy - $8.95 and worth it if you're looking for an honest plate of clean food.

Cheers,
Rocks.

[Gastro888]

I have a complaint - their pho is NOT train sized. Prices, yes but not the portions. (Well, I'm talking relative to other pho joints. Forgive me this is my restaurant background talking. I usually walk into a restaurant calculating their overhead. My poppy taught me well.)

But golldang it if they don't have the best pho in the area!!! With sawtooth herb. AND the thermos of hot water that comes with the cafe phe.

[jasonc]

Gastro888, on May 20 2005, 10:54 AM, said:

Oh, JPW, great minds think alike!

Today was a bleah day for moi and I decided to get some pho therapy.  Granted the best thing to have when you're under the weather is congee but I'll take what I can get!

My coworker and I went to Pho Real in the Briggs Chaney Shopping Center near the Autopark in Silver Spring, MD/Burtonsville.  It's a nice, clean pho joint that also serves spring & summer rolls. 

The summer rolls were good and so was the cafe su da (if a bit on the strong side but hell, we all could use a little oomph every now and again).  As for the pho, it was very good.  We both got the #3 - the toppings were a bit skimpy but I have yet to go to a pho joint where the toppings are overflowing - eh, it is what it is I suppose.  Broth was light and not oily.  Oh and they have REAL Sriracha - not generic Sriracha in the Sriracha bottle.

The best is in Eden Center and the 2nd best if Pho 75 IMHO.  But for a solid bowl of pho, go here.

Pho places in Vietnam supply overflowing toppings. Oh what a life that would be.

This post has been edited by jasonc: 20 May 2005 - 01:40 PM

[DCMark]

Why can't we have good Pho in DC?

[Gastro888]

'Cause most of the restaurants get their business is during lunchtime and I can't imagine alot of the yuppies in DC being down with pho and coming back smelling like it. And alot of people probably don't know what pho is, ya know?

Pho's a great lunch and I don't care if I smell like it when I get back from a pho joint. Then again, I am the one who's dying to bring in stinky tofu to work one of these days.

[Gastro888]

You can get good pho in MD at Pho 75. I'm hard pressed to find a really good Vietnamese restaurant in MD. The food's either too Westernized or not prepared well.

I'll make the trek out to Eden - the quality of the food and the variety there are worth the drive for me. Then again, I used to drive to the Courthouse farmer's market every Saturday to get White Lady peaches from this nice farmer from VA!

[johnb]

perrik, on Sep 8 2005, 04:43 PM, said:

Darn it, now I'm hungry for pho. There's a new-ish pho place near Burtonsville called Pho Real, guess I'll have to try it out...

Janet and I tried the new pho place in Silver Spring, in the row of new chain restaurants. It is on the second floor, above Austin Grill if memory serves. We thought the pho was pretty good.

[Heather]

perrik, on Sep 8 2005, 04:43 PM, said:

Ba-Le on Rockville Pike is probably the best source for bahn mi in the MD burbs, and I'm also a fan of Pho 75.

I used to like Pho 75, but the place in the Ritchie Center is closer. Ba Le has good banh mi, yes, but the entrees/soups aren't bad either.

[JPW]

perrik, on Sep 8 2005, 04:43 PM, said:

Pho Real

You have got to be kidding me.
Where's the groan emoticon when you need it.
Pho Shizzle!

[Gastro888]

Pho Real does offer a solid bowl of pho, along with spring and summer rolls as well. Their cafe su da is pretty good. The portions at Pho Hiep Hao (SS) are really small but served in a lovely atmosphere, if that's important to you. (For me, pho served in an elegant atmosphere is an oxymoron...)

Taste of Saigon seems like a good place where I'd take diners who are unfamilar with Vietnamese cuisine. Myself, I'm all for great food at the hole in the wall authentic joints (eh, who needs decor?) and some people can't/don't want to dine like that.

[dinwiddie]

Actually, my wife likes to order Pho at Taste of Saigon.

[DonRocks]

On my honor, and on my life, I swear to you that, as surely as the grass is green and the sun will rise tomorrow, there is a restaurant opening in the Calvert Shoppes in Del Ray which is going to be called...










































are you ready?





















































make sure to swallow all liquids before reading this...

























































drum roll...


























































it's called...









































































Pho King

[Meaghan]

DonRocks, on Dec 24 2005, 12:31 AM, said:

Pho King

Pho King Rocks

[Tom Power]

DonRocks, on Dec 24 2005, 12:31 AM, said:

On my honor, and on my life, I swear to you that, as surely as the grass is green and the sun will rise tomorrow, there is a restaurant opening in the Calvert Shoppes in Del Ray which is going to be called...
are you ready?
make sure to swallow all liquids before reading this...
drum roll...
it's called...
Pho King

Rocks,
You're Pho King encouraging tripple spacing with that post.

[deangold]

Does one need a New Big Wong before Pho King?

[Dental_FlossTycoon]

I hear the Pho King experience can be quite messy, but you'll almost always leave with a smile on your face.

[dmwine]

Is this Pho Real?

Oh sorry, that's in Burtonsville ...

[DonRocks]

dmwine, on Dec 27 2005, 05:03 PM, said:

Is this Pho Real?

Oh sorry, that's in Burtonsville ...

Where is it?

BTW, the place next to Cone E. Island at 2000 Penn shops has a big sign out front that says "Bon Apetit." Typo or not, that pretty clearly says "bon ape tit" to me.

Cheers,
Rocks

[shogun]

DonRocks, on Dec 27 2005, 05:08 PM, said:

BTW, the place next to Cone E. Island at 2000 Penn shops has a big sign out front that says "Bon Apetit."  Typo or not, that pretty clearly says "bon ape tit" to me.

Hey HEY....you leave Lindy's out of this!

[Dental_FlossTycoon]

Ahhh Lindy's. A place where they believe you can never have too many signs.

[Al Dente]

Burt Reynolds: Why don't you give me ape tit for $200?

[Meaghan]

shogun, on Dec 27 2005, 05:27 PM, said:

Hey HEY....you leave Lindy's out of this! 

...

[Buckinghamilton]

Am I the only one who wants to open a pho/BBQ place called "Pho, Q"?

[monavano]

Buckinghamilton, on Dec 28 2005, 12:55 PM, said:

Am I the only one who wants to open a pho/BBQ place called "Pho, Q"?

"Pho King A"

[Mark Slater]

Buckinghamilton, on Dec 28 2005, 12:55 PM, said:

Am I the only one who wants to open a pho/BBQ place called "Pho, Q"?

No, no! A Chinese restaurant called Wonton Desire. (I really saw this once in Rehoboth).

[jm chen]

Photographic evidence of a similarly suggestive place to visit: Mei Dick.

[Demetrius]

Try Four Sisters by East Falls Church.