"If you’ve heard of Gao Viet Kitchen, you’ve probably heard of their $110 “phởzilla.” The maximalist bowl of soup is loaded up with lobster, filet mignon, bone marrow, a Jurassic-sized beef rib, and other expensive-sounding buzzwords. While it’s a guaranteed way to spice up your social media feed, the regular bowls of phở are a much more cost-effective—and equally as tasty—way to enjoy noodle soup. This two-story restaurant knows how to do well-spiced, complex broth more comforting than a late-night hopecore spiral. If you opt out of the big-ticket toppings, other options include BBQ chicken, duck, or a vegetarian version with fried and fresh tofu." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
