Oodles of noodles: Traditional pho is made with beef broth, onions, noodles and a protein (photo by michael persico).
KEY
N: No meat option
L: Liquor license
M: Make your own option <
B: BYOB
H: Breakfast hours
When hordes of French soldiers took over Vietnam in the late 1880s, they brought back all they couldn't leave behind: clear soups, beef and an inflated sense of self. The newfound conquerors boiled the beef in broth with loads of vegetables and called it pot au feu. The Vietnamese gave it a go themselves using traditional ingredients. The result? Pho (pronounced fuh), a lush, aromatic, infused beef broth with onions, noodles and a name-changing component that ranges from shrimp (tom) to tripe (sach). Eaten for any meal, this hearty helping of Hanoi soup--along with its accoutrements of bean sprouts, lime wedges, cilantro and scallions (to name a few)--is a rare positive outcome of imperialism.
If You Don't Want to Mess With Success
Pho Cali Vietnamese Restaurant (1000 Arch St. 215.629.1888) across the street from the Troc in Chinatown is the standard by which all other pho places should be judged. The trimmings only improve upon the intensely savory batch of aromatic shrimp or tripe pho. Crisp mung bean sprouts, bright green Thai basil and fresh lime wedges brighten up an already fantastic pho. It's the perfect way to warm up this winter. N L H
If You're a Foodie Scenester
Rumored to be the pho restaurant of choice for Philly celeb chef Mark Vetri and local beer geek and restaurateur Adam Ritter, Pho 75 (1122 Washington Ave. 215.271.5866) is a straightforward, unrepentant beef pho emporium. There's no banh mis or spring rolls in this kitchen, only 17 different chef's selections that vary from eye round to skirt, brisket to tender quenelles of beef forcemeat. It's the pho place for folks with discerning taste. H
If Your Eyes Are Bigger Than Your Stomach
For the meager sum of $5.99, Pho 488 (2750 S. Third St. 215.952.3388), deep in South Philly, ladles out kitchen- sink-sized bowls of tender beef brisket and rice noodles in a deeply rich broth. The portion is so big that if Pho 488 were in central Pennsylvania, you'd get a T-shirt and your name on the wall just for finishing the whole thing. Order the medium for $4.95 and you might have room for that summer roll. N M H
If You Have Chilly Bones
During our original visit to Pho Ha (600 Washington Ave. 215.599.0264), the heater was broken and it was a frigid 35 degrees ... inside. The chill was nothing a piping hot bowl of shrimp in a star anise-tinged beefy broth couldn't fix. The small for $4.20 is big enough to satisfy your hunger and chase away that pesky hypothermia without freezing your bank account. N M H
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1. Bianca said... on Feb 4, 2009 at 08:15PM
“pho ha is the best! ”
2. kitchenplay said... on Feb 6, 2009 at 09:34AM
“Yes, Nam Son is great. Good banh mi too!”