House of Phó
253-983-0365
| Monday | 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Thursday | 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Friday | 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Saturday | 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Sunday | 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
Lakewood, Washington
98499
The interior of House of Phó is a bit sparse and has the feeling of a restaurant that’s still settling into a space larger than it needs. Only a dozen fake flower arrangements dot pristine white walls. Inside the door, an aquarium cloaks the view to the Sea of Emerald — green tables, green chairs, green floors and a green neon strip of wood topping a vinyl wainscoting.
Unlike most Vietnamese menus with page after page of colorful dishes, the menu at House of Pho has just under 54 choices, more than half of them soup. To dedicate such space to a single dish demonstrates just how revered this comforting concoction is in its East Asian homeland.
Phó (more like “fun” without the “n”), the brothy mélange of rice noodles, meats and seasonings, has long been a staple of Vietnamese cuisine. Today, it rivals such Asian favorites as ramen, udon and soba as the most popular starchy import from the continent where Marco Polo allegedly discovered pasta.
A small bowl of phó is larger than any soup you’d get at other restaurants and runs just $6.59. More than 19 varieties combine rare or well-done ingredients that range from homey meatballs to more anatomical items such as tendon and tripe. Not wanting to miss out on anything, my party and I went for Pho Chin, Nam, Gau, Gan, Sach — a mouthful promising more than a mouthful of ingredients, like well-done beef brisket, flank, fatty flank, tendon and tripe.
By itself, the soup is comfortingly mild. Tripe is sliced into tender threads that melt into the broth, and fatty flank adds depth. A hint of allspice or cinnamon lingers, evidence of Vietnam’s prominence among spice exporters. A plate of garnishes makes the dish interactive — and ups the flavor ante considerably. Lime slices, Thai basil, sprouts and jalapeños give the soup a kick, and the brave can chance a few drops of hot sauce from tableside bottles.
Restaurant Details
Takeout Yes
Vegetarian Dishes Yes
Meals
Lunch
Dinner
Payment Types
Major Credit Cards
Cash
