My first experience with pho, Vietnamese noodle soup, happened 2 years ago in Chicago. My cousin's friend took us to a pho place and explained to us what it was and how to eat it. I had never heard of it before and for some reason opted to share lamb chops with my cousin instead, even though I'm a big fan of soup in all forms. The only other thing I remember is learning how to pronounce "pho"--according to friend who took us there, it's "fuuh?" with a rising intonation, as if you were asking a question.
I found pho again in Cambridge, Mass., where I'm going to school. A place called Le's in Harvard Square has cheap, good pho that I've grown quite fond of, although I don't have much to compare it to :)
Experiencing pho withdrawal down here in the DC area where I'm interning for the summer, I decided to hunt down a good pho restaurant close to my condo in Rockville, MD. Browsing through Washingtonian's "100 Best Bargain Restaurants" I found Pho 75, a little place about a mile from the Rockville Metro Station (there are also a few other locations around DC). It was a hot, windy, long walk, but definitely worth it. For about $8.50 I got meatball beef noodle soup (regular size, but still a huge bowl) and a lemon soda (surprisingly refreshing and light). There weren't too many other people there, so someone took my order as soon as I sat down and brought out my food within just a few minutes. The soup came with the standard plate of bean sprouts, fresh basil, lime, and some sort of hot green pepper, and there was plenty of Hoisin sauce and Siracha on the table. The meatballs were really flavorful and not too heavy; the broth was also full of flavor but still light; the noodles were the right balance of firm and tender and easy to pick up with chopsticks; and the cilantro and other herbs mixed in added just the right amount of additional kick. Unlike Le's pho, which often seems a little oily and over-seasoned, this pho was filling but not heavy and made me feel like I had something really healthy (but who knows how healthy it actually was...:P). I didn't look that closely at the menu since the server wanted to take my order immediately, and I already knew what I wanted, but I hear they have some good Vietnamese desserts too.
The restaurant itself is small and a little disheveled, not unlike most traditional Asian places, but still clean and friendly. There are some smaller tables alongside a few long, cafeteria-esque ones, and the server tells you where to sit (quite forcefully, but I'm sure you could ask and sit wherever you wanted). You pay at the counter (cash only!) whenever you're ready, no one rushes you or brings you your bill. Halfway home I realized I forgot to leave a tip and felt completely terrible. I didn't remember seeing anyone else do it, and the atmosphere was more fast-food than anything, but I think the quality of the food itself warrants a good tip. I hope to return soon, so I'll be sure to make up for my oversight then :)
Overall, Pho 75 is definitely a "best bargain." Cheap and good, it's exactly what I look for in a casual restaurant.
