| Overall (based on 2 ratings) |  |
| Broth (flavor, fragrance, clarity) | |
| Noodles (texture, clumpiness) | |
| Meat (tenderness, quality) |  |
| Vegetables (variety, freshness) | |
C. Nguyen
Located next to Pho Vi. They appear to have gone to new management and most the menu items prices are priced at starting $4.99.
Most of the small pho bowls are at this price while the combo is $1 higher and the "no meat" is $1 less. My order of large special of rare, tendon, and meatball goes for $6.99.
The decor is light colored semi-modern taking full advantage of the California sun from both corners of the building. They have a huge karaoke look alike DJ boombox pumping out moderate volume of instrumental VN songs. The atmosphere seems very lively with the host/propietor casually bantering with all the guests and quite a large mix of various audible ethnic conversations. With the Cali no smoking ban and the kitchen keeping a good job of keeping the beef tallow smell out of the dining room, it makes a huge difference in getting the most enjoyment from pho.
Service was quite fast with time from order to piping hot bowl in front of you is less than 5 minutes.
The broth is above average with lightly cloudy brown broth with very thin bary perceptable film of beef fat. The meat portions were about average with the paper thin slices of rare beef, extra large meatballs quartered, and tendons cooked to tender perfection. Noodles were standardized factory fresh made cooked to al dente consistency and zero mush factor. I was going to ding them for not bringing out the basil but the host brought some out immediately when I inquired. Strangely enough this place also do not dish out coriender to which I have gotten spoiled and used to... May be times are tough and that is one of the cutback ...
Highly recommended especially if you plan to drag non VN friends. Good ambviance, lively atmosphere, fast friendly service, they even take Amex card ... what more can you ask for?
BTW. They have week end special dish of banh cuon tay ... another of my favorite ... yay! May be someone can start a banhcuonfever.com .... hehehe
anonymous
New Saigon Restaurant is the best...
