Philadelphia Pho: A Great, Cheap, Delicious Meal

If you don't know what Pho is then I'll forgive you for now, because until last spring I didn't either, but unless you're vegan (it uses beef broth and actual meat) it is something you must try. Pho (pronounced 'fah') is a traditional Vietnamese soup with noodles and meat, of which you get to pick and choose 2 or 3 different cuts from around 10 options, and it is certainly not what Americans think of as 'soup'.

First off, the portions are massive, with a large size being just about all I can eat in one sitting, a small a bit more manageable, with the therapeutic nature of the herbs and spices leaving you feeling relaxed and content, if a little bit full. At Pho '75 at 11th and Washington they compare pho to pizza, in that the basic dish is always the same thing- beef broth and rice noodles, but it can be customized in a variety of ways, like toppings on pizza, with the different cuts of beef, a variety of sauces such as chili, sweet plum, and fish sauce, various fresh herbs such as Thai basil, jalapeno peppers, bean sprouts, and, to cool things off if you go heavy on the chili sauce, lime slices.

Different places also offer other things like sugar and various spicy or garlicky sauces. All of these sauces and vegetables are available to you at your table, so that you may combine them as you like to make your perfect pho. In addition to this, there are a variety of other dishes available, though some places have more than others, such as summer rolls and other appetizers, vermicelli bowls which are like pho without the broth, a variety of sweet drinks, as well as sodas, ice teas, and all that sort of thing.

As I said before, it's cheap (no more than $7 for the big bowl of Pho). Dinner for two might run you $20 including appetizers, drinks and tip. This meal, aside from being delicious, is the perfect post-hangover cure, as the warm soup and herbs really settle the stomach and clear the head. If you're in the city looking for a great, unique, cheap meal, try out these places (most of which close at 9 pm):

Pho Ha 6th and Wahington- Basic, with good Pho and other dishes, and they have a picture menu which can make things easier

Pho Ba Le 6th and Washington (about 10 ft from Pho Ha)- My favorite Pho, they just get everything perfect, and it's new, big, clean, and nice.

Pho 75 12th and Washington- I think the first Pho place in Philly, big cafateria style setup, mainly Pho and not a lot of other stuff, but the Pho is good.

Nam Phuong Restaurant 11th and Washington- This is a full-service restaurant with a variety of dishes besides Pho, as well as alcoholic drinks, it's where I would go if going out to dinner.

You'll probably notice that these places are pretty close together, which is nice since you can take your pick without having to go far, as they are located in large Vietnamese shopping centers (between 6th and 7th, and 11th and 12th) which contain a variety of shops and restaurants which are pretty interesting to check out as well. Pho 75 is part of a small indoor mall. These have large parking lots which eliminate the need to hunt around the streets for parking, which is just an added bonus. You can also find some pho places in Chinatown, Pho 75 just opened a location on Race St, and there's a place at the corner of 10th and Arch. Also, another place just opened directly across the sreet from Nam Phuong, which I still haven't tried. If you walk, Washington is about 15 minutes from South St.

My perfect Pho has a little bit of everything, with some extra chili and lime, cuts of steak and brisket, and some barbecued pork summer rolls on the side. Try this once and you'll be a Pho eater for life. What's your perfect Pho? �