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| - Quick & Dirty: I would confidently bring my parents to eat at Pho So 1 because they hit on how a restaurant should represent our people's food. (I don't say that very often about Vietnamese restaurants, too.) And other peeps feel the same way because I saw mad Viet families up in there, yo. lol. Asian to non-Asian ratio was like 15 to 1.
Things to know:
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I. LOCATION & PARKING: Find Pho So 1 in the center of a strip mall off the intersection of West Spring Mountain Road and South Decatur Boulevard (Chinatown). They have plenty of parking.
II. FOOD & DRINK: Sure, they have your rice plates, bowls of soup, and noodle dishes, but they have multiple iterations of each kind (something I've only seen in Cali and Houston). I tasted the following:
*Goi Cuon ($5.95): Pricey, but worth it. I tried both their bo nuong (charbroiled beef) and tom thit (traditional with pork and shrimps) and loved their on-point flavors. More importantly, though, their sauce had an ideal consistency and peanut buttery taste.
*Oxtail Pho ($13.95): I don't prefer oxtail pho because I don't like the smell as much as shoulder or femur, but I tried theirs. And I liked it! They scoop the scum from the pot, which results in a clean, translucent broth.
I also like how one can order different sides. I asked for gan (tendon) and nam (flank). They cooked both very well.
*Cafe Sua Da ($3.75): I would probably dock them a star for not bringing it out with the coffee drip and glass of ice, but I can't hate. It tasted both bold and sweet. Kiss me.
III. SERVICE: Fast. No problems there.
IV. AMBIANCE & DECOR: The newly renovated restaurant feels clean and modern, without losing its Vietnamese roots. Also, they have three different sections, and it seems like most of the tables can accommodate large families.
V. PRICES: Most dishes cost less than $10. And for the amount of food one can get that's a lot of value.
VI. OVERALL: I think Pho So 1 gave me the best meal during my most recent Vegas trip. Thanks for steering me in the right direction, Yelp!
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