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 would like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this web site. I’m hoping the same high-grade web site post from you in the upcoming also. Actually your creative writing skills has encouraged me to get my own web site now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings fast. Your write up is a great example of it.
1Thank you, I have recently been looking for info about this subject for a long time and yours is the best I’ve discovered so far. However, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you positive concerning the supply?
2I got what you mean , appreciate it for posting.Woh I am delighted to find this website through google.
3A lot of thanks for your own labor on this website. Ellie enjoys making time for investigation and it’s easy to understand why. I hear all relating to the dynamic form you produce efficient techniques on your blog and therefore foster response from people on this issue while our favorite daughter is always starting to learn a great deal. Have fun with the remaining portion of the new year. You’re the one performing a good job.
4Would love to constantly get updated outstanding web site! .
5Hi there, just changed into alert to your blog via Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate in case you continue this in future. Many people shall be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
6I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is required to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very internet savvy so I’m not 100 sure. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
7Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I to find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to provide something again and help others like you aided me.
8you’re really a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a excellent job on this topic!
9Some really prime blog posts on this site, saved to bookmarks.
10I conceive this internet site holds very wonderful written content material articles.
11I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back later. Cheers
12You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
13I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
14We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your site provided us with valuable information to work on. You have done a formidable job and our whole community will be thankful to you.
15You made some respectable points there. I seemed on the web for the issue and found most people will go together with with your website.
16I am curious to find out what blog platform you have been utilizing? I’m experiencing some small security problems with my latest site and I’d like to find something more secure. Do you have any recommendations?
17naturally like your website but you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to inform the truth then again I will surely come back again.
18I was very happy to seek out this internet-site.I needed to thanks on your time for this wonderful read!! I undoubtedly enjoying every little little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.
19Pretty great post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to mention that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your weblog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I’m hoping you write again very soon!
20You need to take part in a contest for the most effective blogs on the web. I’ll suggest this web site!
21