Philadelphia Pho: A Great, Cheap, Delicious Meal

If you don't know what Pho is then I'll forgive you for now, because until last spring I didn't either, but unless you're vegan (it uses beef broth and actual meat) it is something you must try. Pho (pronounced 'fah') is a traditional Vietnamese soup with noodles and meat, of which you get to pick and choose 2 or 3 different cuts from around 10 options, and it is certainly not what Americans think of as 'soup'.

First off, the portions are massive, with a large size being just about all I can eat in one sitting, a small a bit more manageable, with the therapeutic nature of the herbs and spices leaving you feeling relaxed and content, if a little bit full. At Pho '75 at 11th and Washington they compare pho to pizza, in that the basic dish is always the same thing- beef broth and rice noodles, but it can be customized in a variety of ways, like toppings on pizza, with the different cuts of beef, a variety of sauces such as chili, sweet plum, and fish sauce, various fresh herbs such as Thai basil, jalapeno peppers, bean sprouts, and, to cool things off if you go heavy on the chili sauce, lime slices.

Different places also offer other things like sugar and various spicy or garlicky sauces. All of these sauces and vegetables are available to you at your table, so that you may combine them as you like to make your perfect pho. In addition to this, there are a variety of other dishes available, though some places have more than others, such as summer rolls and other appetizers, vermicelli bowls which are like pho without the broth, a variety of sweet drinks, as well as sodas, ice teas, and all that sort of thing.

As I said before, it's cheap (no more than $7 for the big bowl of Pho). Dinner for two might run you $20 including appetizers, drinks and tip. This meal, aside from being delicious, is the perfect post-hangover cure, as the warm soup and herbs really settle the stomach and clear the head. If you're in the city looking for a great, unique, cheap meal, try out these places (most of which close at 9 pm):

Pho Ha 6th and Wahington- Basic, with good Pho and other dishes, and they have a picture menu which can make things easier

A delicious bowl of Pho

Credit: pho

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