The backbone of Vietnamese cuisine is it's pho - a soup filled with choice of meat and rice noodles topped with bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, lime, and jalapenos. With the exception of vegetarian pho, the broth base is typically the same across all soup options and you choose your meat. The broth is what makes the soup and the majority of our judging will be centered around the broth, although we will consider the quality of the meat used in the soup and other "add-in" options that can help make a soup your own (For example, Stefani likes the thin sliced beef brisket and tendon. If they have additional vegetables to add, she will add those.) One major critique of many pho is that they are salt-bombs with little other flavor. Soups that add different dimensions to the broth will have the edge.
A second Vietnamese backbone dish is the thin vermicelli. Those are thin rice noodles topped with a meat of choice, similar garnishes as for the pho, and a sweet vinegar fish sauce you pour over everything. Here the flavor and quality and seasoning of the meat is often what stands out, so we will rate the grilled pork vermicelli.
A second Vietnamese backbone dish is the thin vermicelli. Those are thin rice noodles topped with a meat of choice, similar garnishes as for the pho, and a sweet vinegar fish sauce you pour over everything. Here the flavor and quality and seasoning of the meat is often what stands out, so we will rate the grilled pork vermicelli.
Our star ratings:
- Below 3 stars we are labeling as "Duds" and they are not recommended.
- 3 = Straight down the middle - decent enough but not really memorable (but we may try it again to give it another chance)
- 4 = Well, well aren't we happy campers?! - we'd recommend it and would definitely go there again ourselves
- 5 = Heck yeah! - among the best we have ever had anywhere
Restaurant Name |
Location |
Star Rating |
Comments |
2550 S Rainbow Blvd |
4 |
We found this restaurant and stopped going to other Vietnamese places because it is so good (but we will start again now that we are doing this tour - haha! Admittedly it is hard to pay money for places we know probably won't live up to this place.) Their Pho broth is lovely and has some unique flavors (anise? Thai sweet basil?). Their grilled pork vermicelli is solid. |
|
Pho O.C. |
7875 W Sahara Ave #101 |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Pho Vegas |
4251 W Sahara Ave STE C |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Sidestreet Pho & Grill |
8560 W Desert Inn Rd Ste D1 |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Pho Saigon |
6820 W Spring Mountain Rd c111 |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
District 1 Kitchen & Bar |
3400 S Jones Blvd #8 |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Pho Saigon 8 |
5650 W Spring Mountain Rd suite b |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Viet Noodle Bar |
5288 W Spring Mountain Rd #106 |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Orchid |
4266 W Spring Mountain Rd B-106 |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Pho Kinh Doh |
4300 Spring Mountain Rd #101 |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Pho 90 |
4355 W Spring Mountain Rd #101A |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Pho Kim Long |
4023 W Spring Mountain Rd |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Pho Vietnam |
4215 Spring Mountain Rd #201 |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Pho Bosa |
3711 S Valley View Blvd |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Co Anh Sandwich & Noodle Kitchen |
4725 Spring Mountain Rd #G |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Pho So 1 |
4745 W Spring Mountain Rd A |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Viet Noodle Bar |
5288 W Spring Mountain Rd #106 |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |
Pho 87 |
3620 S Jones Blvd |
TBD |
Have not tried yet |