Phở Hòa – Is it just another noodle joint?
It looks like one of those noodle houses on the roadside with plastic chairs, formica tables, laminated menu, and plain white neon lights. Actually, it is one, but with green cushion chairs. The atmosphere is so casual, the slurping scenes so familiar I could almost hear motorbike engines and vendors’ calls around Saigon. Everywhere I look, Berkeley brings back memories of Binh Thanh and Tan Binh Districts with its frameless mix of dashing modernity and forlorn architecture, damp narrow alleys separating discordantly colorful buildings, shoe mending stores tucked between pricey diners, Vespas, bicycles, cars, trucks, men in suit and men in rag, the only thing missing is a xich-lo. Like it or not, this world doesn’t stay outside noodle houses like Pho Hoa, you can eat while feeling life scurry on the pavement. The diners casually bring the commonest of life into their chatter. The kitchen brings the commonest of noodle soup onto the table.
But only they added a twist to it. Of course eighty percent of the menu is laminated with things every pho joint would have: pho. Pho of all varieties, Steak, Brisket, Chicken, Tendon, Flank, Tripe, Meatball. Then at the very bottom of the page, estranged by all other pho’s, is Seafood Sour.
I first heard of sour pho a few months ago. The regional specialty of northern province Lạng Sơn sounds exciting: tamarind sauce, a ladle or two of chicken broth, a handful of chicken meat and innards, fried shallot and crushed peanuts, structurally somewhat like mỳ Quảng (Quảng Nam noodle) and cao lầu (Hội An noodle). So as soon as I saw “sour pho”, I leaped at the chance. Fifteen minutes later, the eight-dollar-and-ninety-five-cent chance looked me in the eye with fiery inquisition, “maybe it’s a little too much chili paste?” I sniffed and hawked, blew and gulped, a sip of water now and then between spoonfuls of the clear red broth. It is definitely not the sour pho of Lang Son. Not only copious amount of squid, shrimp and salmon replaces chicken gizzards, but the sourness comes from pineapple and tomato instead of tamarind, and your rice noodle gets lost in the sea. It is pho and canh chua entanglement, harmoniously with joy in crescendo.
But some part of me will forever crave meat. Big chunks. Marinated. Sauce dripping. A tad of fat to loosen the muscle. Bits of tendon to brighten the chew. Meat that is bold and brown. Like a beef stew.
We found it demoted to the menu’s bottom league with Seafood Sour. Bò kho is Vietnamese beef stew with a complex wealth of tastes, a French-influenced Southerner’s display of abundance, and an ambrosial love of Mudpie. Star anise and cinnamon link bo kho with pho, annato seeds make it color-stricken like claypot fish, nuoc mam gives it the regional stamp. All for a mere $7.65. The quality doesn’t lie in the beef, but in every bite of baguette wholeheartedly dipped in that rich, peppery, daring juice. E V E R Y bite. Only found at:
Pho Hoa Noodle Soup
2272 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 540-9228
UPDATE: This location is now closed.
Other pho houses in Berkeley: Le Petit Cheval (student-pocket-friendly), Le Regal (big-pocket-friendly)
I believe this internet site has some rattling great info for everyone. “He is able who thinks he is able.” by Buddha.
1I like this site so much, saved to bookmarks.
2I conceive this website holds very good pent articles posts.
3Hello.This post was extremely interesting, especially since I was looking for thoughts on this matter last Saturday.
4Hey there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a extraordinary job!
5I conceive this internet site has got some real wonderful information for everyone :D. “I like work it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.” by Jerome K. Jerome.
6I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…
7Merely wanna comment that you have a very decent web site, I enjoy the layout it actually stands out.
8This website is mostly a walk-by for all of the data you needed about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and also you’ll positively discover it.
9Its wonderful as your other posts : D, thankyou for posting.
10Its like you read my mind! You appear to grasp a lot approximately this, such as you wrote the guide in it or something. I feel that you just could do with a few p.c. to force the message house a little bit, but instead of that, this is magnificent blog. An excellent read. I’ll definitely be back.
11I’ve recently started a website, the info you provide on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
12I’ve recently started a site, the information you offer on this web site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
13Some genuinely nice and useful info on this website , as well I believe the design has got good features.
14You have brought up a very excellent points, regards for the post.
15I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
16I am glad to be a visitor of this sodding website! , appreciate it for this rare info ! .
17I’m really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one these days..
18I’d need to examine with you here. Which isn’t something I usually do! I enjoy studying a post that will make individuals think. Also, thanks for permitting me to remark!
19After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
20Some truly superb posts on this web site, thankyou for contribution.
21In the grand scheme of things you actually secure a B- for effort and hard work. Where exactly you confused me was first in the facts. As they say, details make or break the argument.. And it couldn’t be much more true in this article. Having said that, permit me say to you just what did give good results. The authoring is definitely incredibly engaging and that is most likely the reason why I am making an effort to comment. I do not make it a regular habit of doing that. Secondly, while I can easily see a leaps in reasoning you come up with, I am definitely not convinced of exactly how you seem to unite your points that produce the conclusion. For the moment I will, no doubt subscribe to your point however trust in the foreseeable future you actually connect the facts much better.
22Some times its a pain in the ass to read what blog owners wrote but this web site is really user friendly! .
23Absolutely written content, Really enjoyed looking at.
24Nice blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your theme. With thanks
25Fantastic web site. Lots of useful info here. I’m sending it to some friends ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks for your effort!
26What i don’t understood is in fact how you’re now not actually much more neatly-liked than you may be now. You are so intelligent. You understand thus considerably in the case of this topic, produced me for my part consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like women and men don’t seem to be fascinated until it is one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs excellent. All the time handle it up!
27I am really impressed together with your writing abilities as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is that this a paid subject matter or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent high quality writing, it’s uncommon to look a nice blog like this one nowadays..
28I relish, cause I discovered just what I was taking a look for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
29This internet site is my inspiration , really superb pattern and perfect subject matter.
30