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| - Ok.....there is a decent chance that the cooks at Pho Van are squatters. At the very least, they aren't too concerned with the "High School Cafeteria Chic meets Tiki bar meets Semi-Demolished Room" look. That's probably because the food is pretty damn good. I've tangled with Pho before, with Tram's being the big dog on the block. But Pho Van manages give Trams a run for its money.
If you've read other reviews, you already know the fresh Spring Rolls are amazing. If not, read those and come back....I'll wait....
That's right....awesome Spring Rolls. And the peanut sauce is good enough to make you want to lick the bowl. Portion sizes are big at Pho Van, like so big that they are less trying to satiate your hunger, and more trying to punish you for daring to bring your pathetic appetite into their house o' noodles. But with nothing on the menu over $9 dollars, you're getting your money's worth times five.
Broth is the key to Pho and Pho Van has some of the best. My lovely partner is a soup hater to the degree that you'd think it used shove her into a locker in junior high, but even she gave a begruding thumbs up to the broth. Combine that with dead on perfect noodles, and you've got a meal for a cold, rainy day.
But if glorified noodle soup doesn't get you motor running, you can still get a dirt cheap meal that's 4 star worthy. While it comes in a bowl, the Grilled selections are all of the tasty bits of a pho bowl, without the sloppy broth (sloppily delicious). Unlike some other Vietnamese restaurants who make similar entrees, Pho Van keeps the vinegar based sauce on the side, which you'll be thankful for moderation when you get near the bottom of the bowl.
With a prime location in the Strip District, Pho Van has alot going for it. Now, if someone would explain why there is a tiki awning on a solid wall, inside of the restaurant, it would help me get over the fly by night feel of a restaurant that I hope is here for the long haul.
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