James A.
Yelp
Really good Pho, located a bit north of downtown Seattle.
April 29 has special significance for my brother and me, so I wanted to go to this restaurant whose name I liked (Anh means 'intellectual, bright' in Vietnamese) on that day. After visiting Pike's Market, we took the 25 minute walk to Pho Viet Anh around 7:10, 50 minutes before it closed. It was still fairly busy inside, but we were able to get a seat for 2 once it was cleaned. The two gentlemen inside were not particularly friendly, but the place was very modern and the reviews for their beef noodle soup made me want to try it. We figured 50 minutes was enough time to eat, and I wanted to try other things on the menu too. My brother was game.
First was the crispy pork & shrimp rolls ($6.5). It was two small spring rolls, deep fried for a long time. Very crispy...couldn't really taste anything of what is inside.
Second, 4 chicken wings, vietnamese-style. ($7). It came with a generic sweet and sour dipping sauce. The pieces were decent size, and very crispy. I misread the menu thinking it was 6 pieces (which would have been a real value).
Third. My brother asked the waiter what was a must-have on the menu. The waiter gave a generic answer of beef short ribs ($5), 2 pieces of LA-style Kalbi in a decent teriyaki inspired sauce. The pieces were small and grisly, but actually a good deal. I ordered some steamed rice to go with it ($2.5), which was a good choice.
Fourth. Two big bowls of Pho. They only come in one size, and it translated to what a large would be in most places. My brother got the Combo (steak, brisket, fatty flank, and meatball for $17). I got the King special (steak, brisket, fatty flank, meatball, tendon, tripe for $19). Both had plenty of meat, though wish they gave more toppings (just basil and bean sprouts with a slice of jalapeno and lime. The broth was good, a slight sweetness and not oily.
The oiliness of Pho will often cause me gastro problems, but surprisingly, my stomach felt OK as we walked over to the Pier. It was a good dinner for this special occasion, and really enjoyed spending this last day of our trip with my brother.