Pho, Vietnamese beef noodle soup, the Southeast Asian national dish, is the new taco. Yup, we’re calling it. Here are several of Dallas-Fort Worth pho-tastic offerings.
(credit: Pho Colonial/phocolonial.com)
Pho Colonial
4727 Frankford Road, Ste. 409
Dallas, Texas 75287
(972) 267-7466
Hours: Mon – Sun, 10am-11pm
and
1623 Main Street, Ste. 102
Dallas, Texas 75201
(214) 748-0746
Hours: Mon – Sun, Lunch 11:00am – 3:00pm; Fri – Sat, Late Night Walk up Window open until 1:00am
If pho had the equivalent of a French Laundry, this two-store chain would be it. The slightly upscale joint offers customers a unique experience, gluten-free noodles, included. Owner Khanh Dao has led an elegant revolution for the humble dish. The recently opened downtown location (the first spot opened on Frankford Road in May) threw a red-carpet fete that was the toast of the town. Pho Colonial, like many niche restaurants, offers delectable diversions, aside from the hyper-customizable signature dish. There are spring rolls, buns, happy hour and delivery.
(credit: Pho is for Lovers/phoisforlovers.com)
Pho is for Lovers
5521 Greenville Ave., Ste. 105
Dallas, TX 75206
Hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 11am-9 pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-10pm
Website
As unassuming a storefront as is possible cater-corner to Central Market and squeezed into a rather nondescript strip, this wee business is a favorite of area workers. As a matter of fact, arrive during a weekday lunch hour and the wait could be considerable. But, one slurp of the spicy noodle bowl and the second thought after the exclamatory statement about the soup will be, yes, I have found my next paramour. If you insist on order a banh mi instead, make sure it has spicy mayo.
(credit: Pho Apple/phoapple.com)
Pho Apple
5930 W Park Blvd, Ste. 400
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 250-6500
Website
You’ve surely been told that the taqueria tucked away in that dilapilated shopping center is as authentic as they come because English is a rare delicacy. Well, this Plano pho house is the Vietnamese equivalent. Owners An and Yen Guong have a command of the English language has rough as their pho is excellent. Thankfully, extended family member Rodney Siegler, interpreter and pho busker extraordaire: chicken, beef, shrimp you’re call. Either way, a cauldron of noodle, beef broth with bean sprouts, basil, lime, onion, cilantro and hot peppers is presented almost as religious offering, along with their sushi and banh mi. And food of any kind should be so sacred.
(credit: Thinkstock)
Pho95
2525 E Arkansas Ln., Ste. 223
Arlington, TX 76010
(817) 543-2295
Directory Listing
In New York City, Vietnamese restaurants can come off as a free-for-all. Customers are crammed in, the dining rooms is noisy and service, while amicable, can be on the brief side. But if the food is great, it’s worth it. Pho 95 in an architecturally diverse strip mall (more than one individual has called it analogous to the Vegas strip).
(credit: Pho Pasteur/phopasteur.com)
Pho Pasteur
100 W Pioneer Pkwy
Ste 158
Arlington, TX 76010
(817) 274-6232
Website
In the heart of Arlington’s Vietnamese district, Pho Pasteur is easy to miss. It’s even easier to walk in the backdoor through the kitchen. Once seated in the bare-bones dining room, services is quick and pleasant and the menu is long and descriptive. There is pho here and pho there. Whether it be with rare steak that cooks in the broth, the tripe that adds heft to the soup or tendon—yes, tendon—there is little here that falls short of hot and delicious. It’s that simple in Arlington.
