As I headed out on the road North up I-77 back to Virginia - I was craving Pho, I found Pho Nam using Yelp.
Beware, the GPS directions are wrong - the Maps App wanted to direct me down Nautical Drive to get there - Nautical Drive is part of a residential area directly adjacent to the small retail complex in which Pho Nam is located - which is off of Catawba Avenue - not Nautical Drive!
It was after the lunch rush when I arrived - about 3:00 pm so the restaurant was empty. I grabbed a table and the two gentleman working were very helpful. I asked whether their Pho Ga was made with a chicken broth or a beef broth. He advised it was a beef broth - but reiterated that it was very good because they cook it a long time - he made this point several times. So I opted to try their Pho Ga with beef broth.
The soup came out quickly, along with the plate of aromatics: everything was fresh - bean sprouts, basil, JalapeƱos, and lime.
I tasted the broth before adding anything - I was not a fan of the broth. I then added the aromatics - which made it somewhat better. The chicken was very tender, the noodles were not clumped and the broth was steaming.
I added my usual doses of Sriracha sauce to bites as I worked my way through the bowl. I also added a good bit of Sriracha sauce to the broth to kick it up a bit.
I prefer Pho Ga to be served with a chicken broth. I advised the gentlemen that I thought their Pho Ga would be better if they switched to a chicken broth. The smiled and told me their beef broth is very good.
Overall, a nice little neighborhood joint, if I was back in the area I'd probably try it again for a beef Pho. The folks working here are very nice