Lately I've been on a quest to find the best pho in Pittsburgh. A friend recommended that I try this place.
As I walked in I wasn't expecting the restaurant to look this way. It's very small with a dungeon feel. I felt like I was in a secret restaurant underground. It was small but that doesn't bother me. It's a nice little place. The guy who seated us was very nice and gave me literally a minute to look at the menu.
I was surprised how much they charged for pho. It's just broth noodles and meat, right? I was thinking, if I'm paying that much it better be the best pho I ever had!
Started off with the crispy spring rolls. It was fried perfectly! Golden brown and not burnt. And the dipping sauce was very tasty.
The pho came out momentarily. Big bowl, lots of noodles, and meat. For me, pho is all about the broth! Unfortunately, it lacked flavor. I was underwhelmed and while the broth looked yummy it lacked that broth-y star anise flavor that I was looking for. I lightly doctored up the soup to give it some flavor with some hoisin sauce. Not a fan of the rare beef cut because it had a slight "dirt" taste to it.
Although the pho lacked flavor, I wouldn't say it is bad. It's good but not the best I've ever had. I would definitely return and recommend it to people who are in the area.