Impressive. I don't usually rate Vietnamese high as my standards are high in this space. I may be biased ;)
I ordered the Hu Tieu which as a chicken based soup is a natural alternate choice for those who want to go beyond the usual order of Pho. The Hu Tieu was done right, and even though there was a fair amount of noodles, they did not go to waste. I actually consumed the whole bowl, rarity here. The deep fried wontons dropped in the soup was a surprisingly tasty treat and the shredded chicken was properly portioned. The broth was memorable, which says a lot.
Well done Pho Nam. You made my day better, and it started out bitter, which is also a big achievement.
I have been to Pho Nam eight times now and I really like it. The food is made fresh, which is very important for salad rolls, and the dishes aren't the same boring copies of Vietnamese food from a dozen other restaurants. Tonight I tried the Satay Beef Vermicelli (50 on the menu) and it wasn't just beef done in a satay coating, it was beef with sautéed onions and peppers in a thick satay sauce. The warm and spicy element was great against the noodles and the cold lettuce, carrot and sprouts that go into a normal vermicelli dish. It's a good example of how familiar flavours can be changed around to make a typical vietnamese meal something more interesting. Certainly worth a visit for a quick meal still done well.
We were sad when the Greek place that used to be in this location closed down, but we have started visiting Pho Nam regularly for both eat-in and takeout and are generally happy with the place. The salad rolls and vermicelli (bun) are always very good. My one disappointing experience was when I ordered beef noodle soup (pho) - it was so greasy I could barely eat it. Our server noticed, and explained that usually they make the broth the day before and are able to skim the excess fat off once it's been refrigerated, but that I was eating broth made that day. The server brought me new broth (maybe they just stirred it better?) that was slightly less greasy. It wasn't inedible, but I wish I had ordered something else! Anyway, overall we've had great experiences, and service is incredibly fast. We will continue to visit, although I will likely avoid the pho.
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