My ex was half asian, a non-smoker, and felt exactly the same way about pho. It isn't bad, but this board just goes overboard with how fantastic it is, IMO. It is freaking beef soup with cilantro, bean sprouts and jalepenos on the side.
You can make almost any food sound simplistic and overrated when you put it like that. A lot of people absolutely love Pho and while it may not be the most complicated recipe out there, it doesn't make it overrated. Its really like someone saying burgers are overrated because its just ground beef between 2 pieces of bread with some lettuce and tomato.
Damn, that's an ultra extra large. Everytime I go to a Vietnamese restaurant. I spend like 5 mins looking at the menu and always end up ordering PHO. Vietnamese restaurant/food are the best.
Where have you had Pho at Fatty? If you are going to the wrong places I can see how you'd have a negative view of it. Go to Pho One at Wilcrest and Westheimer, then see what you think about it.
Pho is definitely not just beef broth and cilantro. Try cooking it yourself one day and see how you fare. The ingredients are simple, but its difficult to get the taste just right. - "Pho" noodles (Banh pho): 1kg - Beef bone: 1kg (approximately) - Beef rump or shoulder: 400g - Beef fillet (optional): 150g - Shallot (Hanh kho): 20g - Old ginger (Gung gia): 30g - Star anise (Hoa hoe): 1 unit - Cinnamon stick (que): 3cm - Black cardamom (Thao qua): 1 unit - Lime (Chanh): 3 units - Spring onion (Hanh la): 100g - Fresh herbs: sweet mint (rau thom), coriander (rau mui) and saw coriander (rau mui tau) - Nuoc mam, fresh chili, salt, pepper grounded And the love of Pho isn't just on this board. Here's a quote from Chef Didier Corlou
I like Pho too, but the last two times I had it I started feeling extremely light-headed and started to feel a lot of pressure in my head. I did some research and it sounds like I was having an MSG reaction. Not sure if that's common in all Pho, or if the quantity of MSG is just greater at this particular restaurant. Unfortunately I probably won't eat there anymore cause it kind of freaked me out.
fatty, are you sure youre a fatty fatbastard??? how can you say something like that about pho??? but then again everyone has their own opinion.. my mom still makes the best Pho though...
The only couple times I had it, it tasted like dishwater. It was probably just terrible restaurants. Do they have vegetarian pho somewhere?
I agree with you Fatty. Many places in Houston do have "bland" pho?. The only place I will "drive out" to (although there are several near me house) is Tau Bay on bellaire. Even there, I will only order their shrimp only pho?. They have wonderful flavor cristals (not exact culinary terminology). I doubt all the generic pho? places will make their own broths. Many will probably cheat and used canned broth. Can't blame them either because most people don't really care since they overpower it will siracha/brown sauce and other herbs and veggies. It shows by how bland it can be. A good pho? is one that doesn't need all that extra hot sauce etc. but I love me some cilantro and siracha on the side.
I agree with fatty, u guys need to calm down. Pho is usually the cheapest thing on the menu....$4-5. How complicated can it be?!?!
