Got Pho?
By phoFuki • March 7, 2008 0
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It’s cold here on the east coast and nothing warms the bones like some hot Pho. And being in the DC area, there is certainly no shortage of places to find Pho. Imagine entire restaurants dedicated to this simple yet complex bit of Vietnamese dining. Restaurateurs have really been trying to get creative over the past years to entice clients in the doors. My favorite name right now is Pho Real located in Burtonsville, MD. Of course, you couldn’t talk about names without mentioning the obligatory pho75 or pho king and even pho rizzle (well maybe we’re not ready for that one yet)
You ask what is pho?
According to Wikipedia it is…
Ph? (Vietnamese pronunciation in IPA: written pho and pronounced “fuh” IPA: /f?/ in English) is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup dish. ~wikipedia.org
I simply call it noodle soup with lots of extras. Every Asian culture has something similar but it is truly the one dish that is readily found here in the DC area. When you first enter a pho place don’t get overwhelmed by the options.The menu is made up of the same thing but in most popular configurations and typically numbered for ease of ordering. I like to recommend anything offered between 1 and 3 on the list but sometimes you make that mistake of asking what bible tripe or soft tendon is. My recommendation is never to ask what it is but simply enjoy it. After all, if it could harm you then that guy sitting next to you wouldn’t be eating it too 
Once you place your order, make sure to get some Vietnamese iced coffee to go with it. Truly a must have as it is based on a chicory mixed coffee (or espresso) and condensed milk, served up in a tall glass of ice. Yummmm!
Ok so here comes your pho, what’s all that extra stuff? ‘Thems the fixins’, you get your pho ready to eat but there are extras that come free of charge for you to really make your bowl of pho unique to your tastes. There is the hoisin, and Sriracha hot sauce. 2 methods to employ here: 1 you can add both into the bowl (as I do and traditional) or you can put a little of the hot sauce on a side dish for dipping like my brother does (really out of the box). Then you have to add some bean sprouts, basil, lime juice and a few jalapeños. Mix well and enjoy every bite as your tastes buds are lulled into a deep happiness. Yeah, I know its Vietnamese fancy chicken noodle soup but I do love a bowl of pho.
[WARNING] Do not wear white when going to eat pho, it is most likely you will end up with some of the soup on you.
So what’s you favorite pho hangout and order combination?
phoFuki is a guest poster for GoofyAsians.com. He writes on his own blog, phofuki.com, discussing his adventures with tech gadgets.
Tags: pho
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I just like it with eye of round, some bean sprouts, maybe some lime, and no sauces. I feel that the sauces takes away from the natural taste of the soup. (Ahhhh! I’m a purist! lol!)
Mar 7th, 2008 at 3:45 pmThere used to be this really great pho place just outside of eden center in seven corners (here in northern VA) named pho hatay. Their pho was as good as sex. actually, maybe better. The consistency of the soup and the texture of the noodles was perfect. But then they closed down, so now I go to this place near where I live in bailey’s crossroads across the parking lot from the best buy. Soup is ok, but the noodles could use some work. In terms of what I usually order, I get the Tai Nam (I like it simple) with fresh squeezed lime juice and enough srichacha sauce to make it look deep orange-red.
Mar 7th, 2008 at 4:01 pm@andy I was eating pho the other day with a coworker and she added just a spoon full of the srichacha sauce. I smirked and asked why so little. She told me that its too hot for her but she doesn’t feel right if she doesn’t put some in.
@giun I have to have at least the jalapeños. I went to a place once and when the food came to the table, there were no jalapeños. I asked if we could get some jalapeños and I was told that “Today is Tuesday, no jalapeños today” LOL, I offered to go next door to the grocery store to get some for them.
phoFuki’s last blog post..moo cards have arrived
Mar 7th, 2008 at 4:56 pmMmm I looove pho!! I can never seem to get enough of it and I always need a delicious side order of spring rolls. One of the good places I’ve been to is one close to where I work…the spring rolls are amazing and even after you put them in the fridge, they still keep their softness and it’s like you never put them in there to begin with. Simply amazing since most pho places I go to, their spring rolls end up kinda hard after you stick them in the fridge.
Mar 8th, 2008 at 7:03 pm