Pho 97 Vietnamese Restaurant

A few days ago, someone posed a question regarding pho on the e-Gullet Hawaii forum.  I indicated that two of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants were Bac Nam, and this one here, Pho 97.  In the interest of being able to provide more detail to the person who started that thread, I decided to have lunch here on a recent afternoon.

This post is also for Jo, who has not seen pho tai (pho with rare beef) served with the raw beef on the side in the Bay Area before.

When I arrived at the restaurant at 1:15 pm, it was packed.  I was lucky to get the last open table.  Everyone around me looked like they were enjoying the food.  Since I knew what I was going to eat, I didn't even bother with the menu.

After being seated and after taking a few pictures, I spied the condiment tray.  Looking closer, I discovered a very unusual container on the little lazy Susan.  What was it?

A container full of mam tom (shrimp paste).  This is the first Vietnamese restaurant in Hawaii that I've been to that has mam tom in a container on the table.  Since it is a very popular condiment for the Vietnamese, I guess that speaks volumes about this restaurant's food (its authenticity in particular) and the restaurant's popularity with the Vietnamese as well.

Today, I ordered the medium pho tai (pho with rare beef, medium US$4.75; large US$5.25).  First came the garnishes for my pho (ngo gai, basil, mung bean sprouts, cut green chillies and lime).  You'll find this combination of herbs in any Vietnamese restaurant that you go to here in Hawaii.

Then arrived this small plate covered with thin slices of raw beef (10 slices). 

Next to arrive was the cha gio (spring rolls; 6 pieces, US$5.50) that I ordered.  It arrived at the table before the broth for my pho did.

The cha gio were plump, crunchy and not at all oily.  The minced pork and vegetable filling was tasty, making this a great way to start lunch.

Finally, here's the broth for my pho.  It was garnished with some chopped green onions and some sliced round onion.  Look no oil! 

Once the broth arrives, I start to add the slices of beef, one by one.  I usually push the slices of beef under the noodles so they are weighted down and thus, causing them to cook completely.  I will not eat the meat if it is still pink.  If you would prefer the meat to be a bit more "rare", then add the basil and ngo gai first, then allow the beef to cook to the desired level of "doneness".... 

After all the beef has been added to the bowl, I start adding lots of basil leaves and ngo gai (my favorite), then finish off with a handful of mung bean sprouts.  I squeeze a bit of lime into the bowl, and then I'm ready to eat. 

The broth here was beefy and delicious.  You could smell the herbs and spices that were put into the broth (such as anise, cloves and ginger), but each flavor complimented the other -- no one flavor dominated the broth.  Excellent.

To drink, I ordered a ca phe phinh sua da (Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk, US$2.00). 

Ca phe phinh sua da is probably one of my favorite drinks to have during the summer.  It was absolutely refreshing.

As I looked around I saw everyone eating so many different things.  This was an older gentleman that was seated at a table near mine.  Looks like was enjoying his bun bo Hue (Hue style spicy beef soup) as well.

This was some of the best pho that I've had in a while.  The prices here are very good and the portions are quite large, making the food here a bargain.  Even though the restaurant was busy, the wait staff made every effort to come back every now and then to refill my glass of water and ask how I was doing.  All these things make Pho 97 worth repeat visits.

Pho 97 Vietnamese Restaurant
1120 Maunakea Street Space 176
Telephone:  808.538.0708

Comments

[umami]

From looking at the raw beef slices I knew it was going to be a great bowl of pho.

[Big BoK]

Yummy..!!

[AugustusGloop]

Wow. That's a generous serving of beef and noodles.

Don't you love the torturous smell of shrimp paste? I'm not a big fan but I still can't help smelling it just to remind myself how stinky it is! =)

[Transparent Reality]

Wow, I woulda' thunk that the sugar didn't belong on the condiment tray, but I guess it's for the coffee.

That is some great-looking broth. I feel like pho now. :/ As usual, 2:30AM is hunger pang hour. :P

Allen

[Makan Kings]

Reid,

The pho looks really good. Havent had much experience with vietnamese food. Will pay a visit to one of numerous vietnamese food outlets in KL soon.

Cheers,
-Makan Kings-

[Reid]

Hi Umami,

It was definitely a great bowl of pho. This place is actually one of the better Vietnamese restaurants that we have here, and the price are reasonable.

Hi Big BoK,

It definitely was yummy! =) In fact, it was so good that I went back again today! =)

Hi AG,

There was so much in the bowl that I couldn't finish it all...and I can eat a lot! =)

I love the smell of shrimp paste too, but don't like the super concentrated flavor too much.

Hi Allen,

Actually, the Vietnamese are like the Thais. They like to add lots of spice to the bowl, then balance it out with some sweetness. The sugar is rarely added to the coffee as Vietnamese coffee is sweetened with condensed milk (if the coffee has milk in it).

The broth here was excellent. I especially liked the fact that it wasn't oily at all.

Hi Makan Kings,

This bowl of pho was really good. When I was in Singapore earlier in the year, I didn't see any Vietnamese restaurants around. I'm sure they are there, but I don't know where.

Good luck with eating some Vietnamese food in KL. Hope you like it!

[boo_licious]

Yum, yum! I am now hungry for yummy beef pho. So far the places I have been in KL don't serve it with the raw beef slices. I love shrimp paste but like AG says, it's terribly stinky though.

[J]

hi reid, i love your single-minded pursuit of great pho...and what delicious photos capturing the experience of "cooking" your own beef to desired doneness... mam tom on table is a good sign ;) cheers,j

[Kirk]

Reid - Now that's a great looking bowl of pho'. Funny thing is, it's been hot here and I haven't been craving pho' or bun bo hue - but thinking about home and eating pho' and saimin and stuff, in the heat and humidity, I wonder how I ever did it!

[Jo]

Thank you Reid! It looks outstanding! Especially without oil puddles on top of the broth. That's always a turnoff. One of the condiments we typically find here is a sweetish, dark brown, ketchup consistancy sauce that I believe might be akin to hoisin sauce? I like a squish of that and plenty of lime! (I'll mail you the hot peppers! ;o)

[Jo]

OH! Almost forgot, the cha gio... I've never seen it served with the green herbs and I believe the white strands are noodles? Is one expected to creat a wrap of the the fried rolls? That sounds particularly delicious! It also appears that the dipping sauce is nuoc nam? When I first ate Vietnamese food, nuoc nam was typically served, now days they serve a peanut sauce. I love the peanut sauce, but I prefered the nuoc nam... =o(

[808650foodie]

Hey Reid, as always, you're making me hungry...even after my lunch. Pho 97, I think I pass by it on my too infrequent trips back home. For pho, we always go to Pho To Chau on River Street. We love the broth and cha gio there. Have you been to To Chau? There's always a line outside the door.

[Cindy]

I've always wanted to eat there, but it's always crowded!!! I am coming home to Hawaii to visit in October, and I'm perusing your blog for places to definitely hit while I am there. I'm adding this one to the list, line or no line! ^_^

[Terila]

We have pho here in L.A. ... but this pho, in this thread, is dazzling.

[Reid]

Hi boo_licious,

I actually think it's really stinky too! I haven't ever tried the shrimp paste in pho before only because this is the first place I saw it out on the table. I need to ask what dishes to eat this with next time.

Hi J,

It's really funny because a couple of years ago, you couldn't pay me to eat pho...and look at me now! I have to say that I've developed a certain fondness for the dish and this is perhaps the best bowl that I've had yet. And yes, mam tom on the table is a really good sign.

Hi Kirk,

It's funny isn't it? I mean, I eat saimin anytime of year even when it's really hot outside. I don't know why either. Pho is always good for lunch, even when it's high 80s outside.

Hi Jo,

You're welcome! I did this for you, you know. Especially since you said you've never seen the beef served raw before. I usually have it already in the broth and cooked when I order it.

The brownish colored sauce in Vietnamese restaurants is hoisin sauce. I normally don't squirt any hoisin or chilli sauce into the bowl. I prefer to have them on the plate so as not to disturb the balance of flavors in the broth.

And...you're more than welcome to mail me the chilis! =)

The cha gio is normally wrapped in the lettuce, much like how the Koreans wrap lettuce around meats. You would place one of the spring rolls in the lettuce, add in some noodles and mint, then dip into the fish sauce (nuoc mam) before munching away! =)

Peanut sauce is not normally served with the fried rolls, it's normally served with the raw rolls like bi cuon or goi cuon. I wish it were as I really like peanut sauce. Mmmm!

Hi 808650foodie,

I've been to Pho To Chau and to tell you the truth I don't think their pho is as good as this is. You're right, there is always a line outside the door, but then again, I always wondered why. Most of those waiting outside, by the way, are not Vietnamese.

Hi Cindy,

You definitely have to try the pho here. It's so good! Most of the other stuff here is good too. Some of the things on the menu here are not found elsewhere.

Hi Terila,

Welcome to my blog!

I'm sorry that you're not able to get pho like this in LA. Maybe you'll just have to come here and try some from Pho 97 yourself!

Hope to hear from you again!

[808650foodie]

Reid-

If you say Pho 97 is better than To Chau, I'm there! Hey, I'm one of those Pakes lining up for To Chau along with the nice Korean ladies who put sugar and lots of chili sauce into their Pho. Never understood that technique, but to each their own.

Terila-

Doesn't Orange County have a large Vietnamese community? You ought to have some excellent Pho in the South Bay.

[Jo]

Yea, I'm rather surprised to hear that there is a lack of Vietnamese restaurants there as well. I used to work with a young woman who, along with her family, immigrated from Vietnam when she was very young. They settled in Orange County and opened a restaurant there right off and as far as I know it's still there and going strong. To bad I don't know the name of the place.

[milgwimper]

Reid,

I am so jealous! I would love to find a place here that serves it like that here in the Southbay! My DH love Pho, to the point for 1 year I told him we couldn't eat it, because he was dragging me there at least 1-2 times a week. I will have to look for a restaurant like that here. I am so glad you posted this. I had a question do you like cilantro? I notice you did not have any in your bowl, or do you add it yourself also. I am a certified cilantro hater, and I am Darn PROUD OF IT!! ;P

[Jo]

Yea, she hates it so much I once caught her tap dancing on my cilantro patch in the garden! ;oP

[Reid]

Hi 808650foodie,

Actually, when I eat at Thai restaurants, the ladies load up on chilli oil, then spoon tons of sugar into the bowl as well. They seem to like it hot and sweet!

Hi Milgwimper,

I actually LOVE cilantro. Too bad they only put a little bit of it in the bowl this time. I'll make sure to ask for more next time.

Hi Jo,

LOL!

[milgwimper]

Jo,

Come on Jo you know it wanted to take me DOWN! IT ATTACKED ME! I mean I was just standing there admiring your garden then the sneaky cilantro wrapped its scarey stems and leaves around my leg, and wouldn't let go! What else could I do? It was self defense! REALLY! LOL

[Reid]

Hi Milgwimper,

LOL! You're just too much for words! Do you want your award now or later? =P

[Jo]

::rolls eyes:: OH yea sure! I think it was really the "funny" tomatoes in disguise that were after the sweetness of your ankles... ::grinning::

I'm with you Reid, I love cilantro. I make a fabulous potato salad with it. Want the recipe?

[milgwimper]

Oh you really love me! *sniff sniff* LOL *smile and wave touch the pearls smile and wabe touch the purse* *bats eye lashes*

Jo,

You're spreading the evil. I don't know how we stay friends! ;P

[Jo]

ah, you love me for mah maters girlfriend and you know it!