Pho Bac Restaurant

"We can’t help but feel nostalgic about this iconic, decades-old spot that features 19 different kinds of excellent phở. Here, you’ll find fragrant northern-style broth filled with extra-tender meat like thinly shaved brisket or massive, prehistoric-looking beef ribs You can get most of these soups over at the newer, snazzier location of Phở Bắc Sup Shop in the CID. But while that outpost has other Vietnamese dishes, the Mt. Baker location sticks to the phở basics—and it works. The simple dining room, with its steamy windows you can spot from the street, the buzzing glow of the purple neon sign, and laid-back charm can only come from a place that’s been around this long and continues to pump out fantastic food. Regulars may notice the restaurant’s recently undergone renovations with a fresh coat of white paint, but the classic brown floor tiles remain like a culinary time capsule. Most importantly, the soup has stayed just as great as ever. photo credit: Nate Watters photo credit: Nate Watters photo credit: Nate Watters Food Rundown Phở Tái / Rare Steak Phở The phở tái is first on the menu and first in our hearts. It’s got a rich broth with paper-thin slices of shaved steak that arrive red, but get pinker by the minute as the hot broth works its magic. Phở Sườn Bò / Beef Rib Phở This iconic bowl of pho is part of what put this place on the map—and honestly, we get it. The massive beef rib sticking out of the soup looks like something Fred Flintstone would gnaw on, and it gives the already tasty broth an extra collagen-y boost. It’s a carnivore’s dream and an arm workout if you decide to lift the whole rib out. Fried Egg Rolls The menu here is almost exclusively pho. But if you flip it over, there’s a tiny section marked “Not Pho.” Enter: crispy, porky egg rolls with a shattering crunch, ideal for a little broth bath." - Kayla Sager-Riley

"The Rainier Valley branch of the pho-tastic Pho Bac restaurant group is reopening sometime next week." - Harry Cheadle