Pho Dai Loi #2

Ordered online vegetarian vermicelli, and a pho. The pho came cold, no bowl. The veggie vermicelli shows a pic of tofu when u order- I called once I got home to let them know it was missing and was told they don’t have tofu and he hung up on me. The veggies aren’t fresh. Very disappointed.

Plenty of meat and veggies were provided with each dish. I had the opportunity to try the pho dac biet, bun bo hue, and bo kho. Overall, we were satisfied with our meals but some dishes could have been even better with more flavor, i.e. more lemongrass for the bun bo hue.

The pho arrived promptly, however, I found the pricing to be excessive. A large bowl cost $16.50 before tip and tax, and the service was unsatisfactory.

Unexpectedly flavorful food in plain decor. This is a roomy, open space with lots of big tables. The service is prompt and no-nonsense. Weirdly, every time I visit it seems a little stuffy when I first walk in. The shrimp rolls have lettuce and rice noodles without sprouts, which is a bit different. I really enjoyed them. The fish sauce is unique with more spice and garlic than most places. It has a little sting in the spice and I found myself wanting more. The steamed rice with grilled pork was a good surprise. The sliced tomatoes were fresh and tasty. The carrots were a bit pickled. The pork was unexpectedly flavorful. Often Vietnamese pork is a limp, texture with very little flavor. This had a bolder grilled flavor with a touch of garlic. The meat had a more robust texture without being tough. If you don't mind the utilitarian space, this is a great choice for people who like Vietnamese cuisine but want bolder flavor. It was a large, tasty meal that, without appetizers, was about $20 with tax and tip.

The vegetables in the pho tasted stale and were brown and obviously not fresh. They barely said 2 words to me and the overall experience was not one that I need to repeat. I also ordered chicken to go and the strips were tough and dry.