2.25 Pho So 1
Posted on July 21, 2008
Filed Under Best of the Best, Vietnamese | 4 Comments
I have many fond memories of our establishment for meal #25, year two. I came to Pho So 1 at least once a week while at UCLA. The food is cheap, it came out fast, and right next door is Ranch 99 where you can pick up most anything you’d want to cook for the week. Pho So 1 is also probably one of the best Pho places even remotely close to West LA, and I’m very happy to revisit my old feeding grounds for a meal.
First up is the spring roll. Pork and shrimp wrapped in rice skin. There’s a nice blend of flavors here, and the textures are smooth and comforting. Dip the rolls into the sauce for some extra flavor.
We also ordered the egg rolls. Crispy fried skin, stuffed with vegetables and pork. You can wrap the egg roll with a big leaf of lettuce and dip it in the tangy sweet sauce for some extra textures. You do need a bigger mouth, though…
We ordered a couple bowls of various Pho, so the waiter delivered us the raw vegetables. sprouts, basil, lime, culantro, and jalapenos.
The pho comes piping hot with thinly sliced pieces of beef. There’s a great variety of pho available, essentially in the same broth and with the same rice noodles, but the amount and variety of meat can differ. I got the #1 special and it had slices of steak, brisket, tendon and tripe. Pho takes no time to prepare at all and when it comes, toss in as much vegetables as you want and mix well, the heat in the soup will continue to cook the meat and the vegetables to perfection.
The soup base is incredibly flavorful and comforting, the rice noodles thin and soft without being mushy. Textures are enhanced greatly with the crunchy sprouts and the flavors stirred up by the culantro and basil. Feel free to add in hoisin sauce and sarracha. It’s perfect for a cold day or if you’re feeling a bit under the weather.
Oh, the drinks, of course. We got a jack fruit smoothie and it had an incredibly fresh fruit flavor. Just like eating a sweet juicy jack fruit.
You can also try the Hot filtered coffee with condense milk (French Style) it’s strong but the condensed milk should take the edge off. Perfect for combating the food coma you’re going to have.
Service wasn’t bad but wasn’t very attentive. Pay at the counter when you’re ready to go. The place is bright and fairly clean, and could get packed on any night. Thankfully the Pho comes out fast and people eat fast, so I never had to wait long. They also have seven courses of beef and a ton of other Vietnamese style foods that is screaming to be tried. All in good time, of course, I still can’t get over how good the Pho broth is.
Pho So 1
6450 Sepulveda Blvd
Van Nuys, CA 91411
(818) 989-6377