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| - I am pleasantly surprised with the updated touches in Pho Thanh. I used to go here all the time when it was Pho Bang, and stopped because it got to be a little grimy.
This place was packed! It was a Tuesday for lunch at 12 pm. There was no place to sit! I got squashed in between a table with people all around me, but that's okay...I settled in quite nicely and my surrounding neighbors proved friendly.
I didn't need a menu...I seldom do when I eat Pho. I ordered my traditional fare: Pho Tai with Iced Condensed Coffee.
I looked around at the changes. No more dust caked on the wall, new photos and pictures, and the addition of a new staff. The place seemed better lit and had a better vibe than any other time when it was Pho Bang.
My food arrived quickly. The soup bowl was HUGE! I asked for a fork (yes, I embrace my Caucasian side) to use in combination with the soup spoon. I added in my Siracha sauce, Hoisen sauce, and the wet spiced red peppers. Added in touches of lemon, jalapeno, bamboo shoots, and cilantro. Give it a little stir, and POW.
Upon the first taste I did notice that this was a little bit more oily in comparison to other beef broths from Pho that I have had in the past. I was disappointed in the additions (or lack there of) of the green onion and white onion.
Side note: if you are a beef lover, ASK FOR MORE BEEF IN YOUR SOUP. There was an okay amount provided, but I feel that there could have been more slices.
Aside from that, no complaints! I couldn't finish my soup (like always) so it proves that the portion was definitely hearty. The coffee was amazing, and always is, and still to this day is the strongest form of coffee around (aside from Turkish/Arabic black tar coffee).
There was a mixed crowd of people in here, which I was glad to see. I have been to many Vietnamese restaurants in the past, all alone, and was the only non-Vietnamese person in the restaurant. All sorts of cultures and ethnicities were present.
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