9 - Pho Vinh Quang

It'd be a snitch to miss Pho Vinh Quang at 19/13B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street. It's hidden off the main drag down a wee alleyway. The only hint of a beef noodle soup lurking nearby is the sign hanging on the electricity pylon. It's a front room pho set up, just next door is a Bun Rieu which is a similarly homespun affair. On the evidence of this visit, Pho Vinh Quang looks like a popular haunt. Although, pushed for time and with the toad in tow, I opted for the take away option today.

No snaps of the bowl, so you'll have to make do with the restaurant. Like I said, very 'homely'. In fact it is a home, I think. Looks like this place doubles up as Vinh's front room. There's only Pho bo on offer, no fowl in sight, and I opted for the Pho Bo Tai (Raw beef noodle soup). As with previous takeaways, they fairly pack their noodles in here and scrimp on the soup. And that's never a good thing.

What there is of the soup (not a lot...) is quality stuff, meaty and thick. A takeaway order comes with a small bag of premixed Hoisin sauce and chili sauce (which I didn't bother with), a minimal three leaf herb selection and a bag of freshly chopped red chilies. The meat was slightly chewy. The more I search for the perfect Pho, the more I realise meat tenderising is an afterthought in Vietnam. Having said that, I'm gonna return here. It's just a stroll up from Saigon zoo and I have a feeling that eating in house would reap better results. Also, I want to check out the Bun rieu next door. A takeaway will set you back 10,000VD.

Comments

[Vikie]

The black sauce eating with PHO is not oyster sauce. Its a kind of sauce made from soya. Chinse has the Hoisin Sauce - its similar to this one as well. You can try the tail of beef with PHO as well at PHO VINH QUANG

[pieman]

Yup - my mistake. I knew that after this debate. Cheers - will go and edit.

Do you know the Vietnamese name for Pho bo with cow tail?

[Tuyen]

Pho bo with cow tail is called Pho Duoi Bo ("duoi" being tail and "bo" being cow in vietnamese). Most Vietnamese (with teeth of course) like their meat chewy, especially chicken.