Brian T.
Yelp
We were looking for a new pho spot to try within the loop (or as close as we can get to it). Our fave is Pho Sapa, but we didn't feel like driving all the way to Chinatown on a weeknight.
We came in around 8pm on a Thursday and there was nobody in line in front of us. This would be considered an unconventional pho experience, as you're not ushered in to your seat and immediately asked for your order (I do like those legit mom & pop places though). Instead, think of Chipotle or Mod Pizza. They have some prix-fixe bowls of pho, however you can also build your own bowl starting at $10 with meats and premium toppings for a small extra charge. They also have other options, like the pho dip (their version of French dip, but with a bolillo banh mi), bun bo hue, spring rolls, egg rolls, and other menu items that were noted as "coming soon."
Both of us opted for the #3: Pho Tai Gau which comes with eye round steak and fatty brisket. You have a choice between standard pho noodles or fresh pho noodles, and we opted for the fresh as they were also wider cut ($1 extra). We also added a bone marrow on the side ($5 extra).
The pho broth was very refreshing. Not too salty or MSG-heavy, but just right. The fresh noods were also nice and silky. I have gone to the dark side of wide pho noodle preference, so this was well worth the extra dollar. The meat was just alright. The fatty brisket was decent, although the eye round steak was a little thick and chewy. This is traditionally sliced very thin to where it's placed raw in the pho, allowing the broth to cook it through. I believe they already had this one pre-cooked when assembling the bowl, perhaps why it was a little tough. The bone marrow didn't have much flavor to it either, mainly providing little gelatinous texture to the noodles, meat, and soup. I'm not sure if this is worth the extra $5, I'd probably opt for the beef rib next time for the additional meat.
The two employees behind the counter were friendly and helpful for us first-timers. When we ordered the fatty brisket, they mentioned that they might be out of fatty cuts, but were able to pick out the fattiest ones for our bowls. Extra flavor yay! Immediately after assembling our bowls and paying, we brought our own bowls out to the self-seating. I was actually a bit scared doing this myself - I normally leave the pho carry-outs to the servers who are pros!
Shortly after we got our food and sat down, several more people started coming in and a line formed. Glad we came in just at the right time! It was moderately busy with some people getting orders to-go or sitting outdoors. Live music in the shared patio area on Thursdays apparently!
Overall this is a good spot for, as the name says, your fix of pho. While there are better options both nearby and in Chinatown, this fast-casual concept will get you in and out if you're in a rush and looking to satisfy that craving of noods.