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| - Just had my first meal at Pho Viet Nam #2, and am so glad that they're in Mesa. (Watch out valley, we're getting some culture over here!) It's a cute, clean place with lots of booths and comfy seating and a couple flat screen TVs. It was around 3pm on a Friday when I got there, and I was the only customer after a normally very busy lunchtime. The food came out reasonably quickly. I've been looking everywhere for good vegetarian Banh Xeo, and was extremely pleased with it here. Light and crunchy (like you want it!), yet containing lots of veggies, and very thin pieces of tofu inside that were crispy on one side so as not to moisten the pancake. If you want it vegetarian, tell them no fish sauce. They'll give you a very nicely sweetened soy sauce which was great. Chili sauce, Sriracha, Hoisin, and other sauces are at every table.
I also had the tofu/veggie spring rolls, which come with a peanut sauce with shredded carrots and maybe other veggies in it. Really delicious.
As good as the food was, I was maybe most impressed with Tony, who was busy filling sauces at the tables and prepping for the dinner crowd. He chatted pleasantly as he worked around me, enthusiastically answering all my questions about the menu. Though very young, I really thought he might be the manager or the owner's son because he has the perfect attitude and demeanor. He never wasted a moment the whole time I was there. Mindful, professional, and friendly.
I really want to give this place five stars, but am holding one back due to the somewhat limited vegetarian menu options. A five-spice noodle soup or something would be a great addition. Those of us that fell in love with pho but don't eat meat anymore have this hole in our hearts now. Please fill it with something as close to pho as you can muster. Until you do, I'll be trying out your four other veggie noodle dishes and being grateful you have them. Welcome to Mesa!!
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