Pho So 1

It is so sad that Phở So 1 in Chinatown closed! It is the best place for phở and banh mi! This place will be missed!
But on the way to Philly, I found another Phở So 1 in Cherry Hills, NJ which amazingly is the owned by the same people. So, if you ever go to Cherry Hills, you can have their steamy, yummy phở again.

What is going on?! Where are my bahn mis?! Is this place closed?! Because if so! That would be THE WORST. I went here last Monday and they were closed and they were closed again today. I called the number and it’s disconnected. THIS IS SERIOUSLY THE WORST!
I blame all of you naysayers for this unfortunate turn of events!
Ps: If you don’t want me to starve to death, tell me where to get a good cheap bahn mi, please.

Nooooooo, Phở So 1… I did not help you with my glowing review while you were still around, and now I can only eulogize you.
You were truly the best Vietnamese food in the entire city. Your chef was a master, and your proprietor was the nicest. You will be sorely missed.

Love the BYOB policy here. Appreciate the fact that when they saw 12 of us come in with as many bottles as there were people, they didn’t go running. And of course, I can’t say enough about how late they stayed open so we could finish every single one of those bottles.
Unfortunately, the phở wasn’t all I was hoping it would be. The broth is just a little too nondescript to me. No subtle layering of flavors. The appetizers were okay. On a positive note, the phở bowls are plenty large.

I DID NOT ASK FOR TRIPE IN MY SOUP.
In fact, the mere appearance made me nauseous. This place was a total disappointment. The flank tasted strongly of fish. What the fuck? I have had much better phở and much better summer rolls. I don’t know if it was just me but I felt there was a strange taste to the broth. Almost like truffle.
I hate truffles.
The search continues.

Apparently Phở is supposed to be made with beef. Who knew. Anyhow, I had my first beef phở here. Certainly the best phở I’ve had, but I’ve been doing it all wrong till now so I’m some kind of asshole. That said,
woohoo! $ 5.50! Plenty of kick! I’ll be going back.

OMG SO GOOOD!!!
If you’ve never had phở before, you are totally missing out, and if you love phở then you must go here. Great selection, amazing prices, underground, they have all types of asian drinks, and try their rainbow ice for dessert, a traditional Vietnamese serving of 3 types of flavor, green jelly (weird sounding, but a true wonder), some bean stuff and another kind of bean stuff with crushed ice and some sweetener, OMG I WANT IT RIGHTNOW!
The service is great, brings everything out fast and hot, tons of hot sauces, fish oil, hoisen sauce for the phở.
Go go go PHO!!! pronounced FA
Average cost per person 8 bux, that’s a drink and a bowl of phở and a tip!!!

PHO GOOD!
This place was great! It was easy to find (which you may appreciate if you have been unlucky like me to have gone to places that are not where they said they are… grrr). The phở was fast, cheap and delicious. You can just give the waiter the menu # (like the #3 phở that was LOADED with beef brisket) when you order.
I went with a group of 4 for dinner and was surprised to see that the place wasn’t crowded. The people that work there were so nice and happy, which are strange characteristics for an Asian waitstaff. They also have other noodle and rice dishes besides phở. Not only that, but beer and wine are on the menu.

My shoes are worn and beard has grown, my hair is ragged but my search is finally over.
There is Phở in NY.
I have been through too many bowls of subpar MSG fueled beef noodle soup. Some with soggy noodles. Some with flavorless broth. Some just inedible. Phở So 1 has finally come through for me and ended my hard fought battle to find a go to Phở joint.
Phở was nice and salty with a nice star anise flavor and fragrance. Just the right amount of meat
The fired rolls were tasty and light.
Finally…

Best Vietnamese food I’ve had. Granted, Vietnamese is one of my lesser known cuisines, but still, this place has to rank up there.
Everything here is made with particular care, and with the absolute freshest ingredients possible.
For starters I tried the Thit Nuong Cuon (BBQ Pork Summer Rolls). My only complaint was that there wasn’t quite as much pork as I would have liked. But I can’t complain too much, to my understanding dishes like this are meant to use meat as an accompaniment to the other ingredients, not the headline star.
For my main course I tried the Bahn Mi Ca Ri Ga… and DAMN am I glad I did. The curry flavor was surprisingly different from most other curries. It wasn’t like Japanese curry, or Indian curry, or Jamaican curry, etc. The closest flavor I could relate it to is the curry flavor in Singapore Mai Fun… but that’s mostly just a statement of there being a good amount of cumin in it.
The bread was much better than most places I’ve been to, and worked perfectly to soak up the wonderful curry. The chicken in the curry was VERY good too. Slow cooked, so it mostly just fell off the bones, and it wasn’t all just wing meat. Very good mix of parts. This is one of my new favorite dishes.
Since going here, I’ve tried a head to head comparison with my previous favorite Vietnamese place (Nha Trang). And on all 3 fronts (bread, chicken, curry) this place is the obvious winner.
Water Refill Meter: ⁴⁄₅
It’s a smaller place, so it’s pretty easy to keep up on water (and tea) refills, but still… they were really good about it.

Wonderful!
Had a late (4:00) lunch, and the Café Sua Da was perfectly brewed, the spring rolls were made fresh, and the Phở Tai Nam was delightful. We were the only people there, and the service was top notch. We will definitely be back.

«I used to get some really amazing Vietnamese food when I lived in Seattle,» I said as I sat down for lunch at Phở So 1 with my dining companion, who was turning me on to one of her secret spots.
This basement restaurant on Mott Street, south of Canal, is nothing much to look at. Odd décor includes a bar with no stools, an aquarium with tropical fish, stacks of TP on a table, and nips (aka mini-​bar bottles of booze) on a shelf.
But the restaurant is clean and the service is friendly. For example, even though Phở So sells Viet beer (like Saigon and 33 Export), they didn’t mind that we brought our own (Chimay, I might add!). In fact, they were willing to cork it for us (not necessary).
We ordered a light lunch, starting with an order of Cha Gio, which came with four delicately fried spring rolls and lettuce and mint leaves to wrap them in. Holy shit, these were good! Dip them in fish sauce and you’re in heaven.
On to the Phở, which comes in various versions, depending on what kind of meat you want (top round, tendons, brisket, etc). The meat is incredibly tender, and you can tell the Phở has been in the works for the requisite day. Add some chili sauce and hoisin for dipping the meat, mix it all up – glassy rice noodles, greens and sprouts — and you, my friend, are in business.
The verdict? Speaking as someone who spent months traveling in Vietnam and has eaten Phở in stalls from Saigon to Sapa, I would say this Phở So 1 ranks pretty high. Indeed, on a rainy day, this place is pure comfort food that cannot be beat.
«So how does this stack up to Seattle?» my partner in crime asked, knowing full well my answer. I took a sip of Chimay and smiled. Seattle seemed like a distant memory…

Spring is upon us in New York, and phở season has sadly come to an end for me. I made the trek down Mott street yesterday passing solicitations for massage parlors, passing though a funeral cortège with a flower-​studded hearse, passing by open fish markets with the fresh smell of ocean affronting my nostrils, and weaving through throngs of lost tourists. I was on a quest for my last bowl of phở in a subterranean retreat of culinary decadence. If this is going to be my last bowl, it better be good!
Phở So is known for their beef phở, but I opted for a variation that called for BBQ pork chop. I wanted to finish with pork, and I was not disappointed. The pork was perfectly cooked and very tasty with its alluring sweetness. The bean sprouts were fresh, the noodles were delicious and effortlessly pliable, and the broth had a good natural taste before adding any Sriracha. Everything mixed harmoniously and I finished my entire bowl with nary a break — when you eat alone, you can forgo manners. During my entire visit, I was the only Caucasian here which I took to be an encouraging sign that the place has not become too famous — not yet at least. I just loved this place. Highly recommend!
4.5 stars.

If you love vietnamese or call yourself a fan of phở, has the mediocre offerings from Nha Trang and Doyer’s Vietnamese made you lose your smile? If so, Phở So 1 will help you regain that with a Bun Dac Biet that includes sliced beef balls, tender beef brisket, fresh tendons, chewy noodles, and a flavorful broth that goes unmatched by any other. The portion is very generous, and I’d often have trouble finishing the bowl.
While the Bun Dac Biet is the main attraction, the rest of the menu was filled with traditional viet-​style rice dishes and noodle soups. Some other memorable choices during my repeat visits included:
Bún bò Hu (noodle soup with beef and lemongrass flavor): Spicy; more flavor than Phở Bang’s version according to a friend
Bò lúc lc (marinated beef cubes served over rice): great taste and texture
Bun Tom Thit Nuong (BBQ shrimp and pork over vermicelli noodles): light, refreshing, very tender pork
Lastly, thanks to Jando and a friend of Vietnamese descent, I was introduced to an «unlisted» house special called bánh bèo (mini steamed rice cakes topped with dried shrimp and scallion). Served in 12 small (sauce) plates and accompanied with a bowl of fish sauce, these bite-​sized delights really hit the spot. Truly unforgettable.
Succulent taste, generous portions, under $ 10 per person, friendly wait staff that speaks both Vietnamese and Chinese, what is there not to smile about?

Back in California, there was a Phở 1 thru 99 just around the corner from Mom’s salon or in the same city. But in all the three years I’ve lived in New York, I’ve yet to find a favorite go to Vietnamese restaurant. Maybe when you’re home sick, you expect more from comfort foods. Maybe I’m just picky but my way of testing a restaurant is ordering the staple dish. If they can’t get that right, they’ve ruled themselves out.
So recently, I was craving Vietnamese phở and ventured into Chinatown on the recommendation of Pam S (during lunchtime and a $ 8 cab ride at that). If I was a passerby, I’d never consider stepping down into the basement restaurant with its narrow entrance and dish photo covered walls. But for a change, I was happy to see and taste the food.
Inside, surrounded by bright orange and red décor, white lighted garlands, and Asian shows on the telly, I was happy to have the restaurant to myself. The service was so hospitable, I didn’t mind that they forgot to bring the fresh basil, sprouts and lemon wedge out before my noodle soup arrived. Also, they kindly brought out a tasty chilic garlic oil (with peanuts!) upon my request. After my quality check below, I was even happier to finish my first gratifying bowl of phở in New York. I left Phở So 1 completely satiated.
Culinary Explorer’s Guide to a Good Bowl of Phở:
1. Taste the broth first — Some folks like to drench their phở in other seasonings before ever tasting the broth. I’m pretty simple with ingredients. Occasionally, I’ll add spice. But I like the basic, clear tasting broth with aromatic basil herbs.
2. Check the quality of the noodles — These should be loose and not stick together too much.
3. Look for the condiments — From the herbs to the sriracha sauce, you want to eat at a place that keeps these fresh and clean. Either Phở So 1 was new, or they wipe down the condiment containers and keep a fresh stash of everything on hand. (The only thing I would have preferred different was the thin napkins that tend to melt in your hands.)
In just a couple days, I returned to Phở So 1 to get a second fix for my cravings. This is definitely one of my new go to places for reliable Vietnamese food.
fotos:

Disappointing Update: — Ish don’t think so!
*Returned two weeks later
Banh Beo tasted-​off
Most likely the pre made tray sat out under Saran wrap all day…
Collecting condensation so by that evening I was served a plate of mildewy rice battered mess. Dousing fish sauce to disguise the off taste didn’t work to my advantage.
BFF’s Phở tai, Nam and Bo vien
No flavor in the broth, no anise, brisket meat (nam) very dry and the meatballs where Freezer burnt.
Cha Gio
Came out crispy but lacked flavors all around.
Bun Dac Biet (House Speciality)
Grilled pork/​shrimp, cha gio and shredded beef on a bed of rice noodles was not a mix of «dazzle».
The only good was the Xinh To (smoothie)
Fresh mangos where blended into a sweet treat.
I am not impressed. Phở So 1 please don’t let things go downhill… Work out the kinks. If NOT… «See You Later»
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(WAS 4 STARS)
Came here during the week of TET (Vietnamese New Year’s)
Looking for Banh Chung (sticky rice, mung beans, wrapped in pandan leaves –sans meat) Lucky for me –they had did! It was displayed on table next to the register piled high: sweets and savory offerings wrapped in red and gold paper.
I then noticed a thin man in a white uniform slurping from a large bowl –PHO? perhaps? He was the chef. So, I asked him… in Vietnamese: «What’s good here?» In nervousness (boss was 2ft away) replied «Everything».
Okay… since the boss was there I re phrased my question directly:
Q. «Is it true that you used to own the Banh Mi place on Broome?»
Q. «What’s your specialty?»
A. Yes, yes that was me. The rent went up and so, I found this place and decided to do the complete menu.
A. Well, since it’s your first time here… go for the phở tai and banh beo (we are the only one in the city that has it) once you are a fan then come try the Banh Xeo. I assure you it will be to your liking.
Phở tai
BFF had that. WoW the noodles had a chew texture that gave the broth and sliced beef a good play… with each chew.
Banh Beo (steamed rice batter, minced pork, herbs & spices)
A bit thick for my liking (mom still wins) but still good & it was fun to eat!
I suggest non-​Viets to give it a go –try it as an appetizer so that you can share it with friends.
And, Yes, yes The Boss Man is right! I will return and check out the Banh Xeo for the next visit.

This is the precious basement baby of Chinatown.
At first it was just your typical cluttered basement restaurant. Empty of guests full of Chinese/​Vietnamese ancestor worship chotchkeys, a pseudo-​aquarium, and a see through refrigeration unit.
Now, they’ve done and got themselves a 70’s fancy house makeover! I love the new chandelier, I love the new bar, I love watching CCTV 8 on their big screen, I love that sometimes their little grandchildren pour my water for me!
And of of all, I’m crazy in love with their phở. You can tell they don’t put no bouillon cubes in their pot. Only the meatiest oxtail stewed for hours. All the delicate undercurrents of marrow really speak with each spoonful of broth.
Btdubbs, avoid the summer rolls. Instead, get the deep-​fried Vietnamese spring rolls— a wonderful DIY dish that you should wrap in lettuce and mint before dipping into the fish sauce. It’s so crispy and flavorful, like a tight meat cannoli— I bet you’ve never had a spring roll like it!
It’s an old school Chinese place that gives you a fresh pot of tea and provides all the fixin’z one could ever want on the table. A whole tin of napkins, too!
At 5.50 a pop… where else would you eat?

After being recommended to this place by Alex S, it now places at the top of the Viet restaurants I would go to for phở.
The broth here is what really stands out, although everything else I’ve tried here has been equally outstanding.
There is this one jovial old waiter that is always working here, who I think may be the boss. His friendly demeanor and constant smile go a long way in terms of service. There actually is service! Unlike so many of the other Vietnamese restaurants.
I came here with a large group of about 14 people and they were able to accommodate us. The orders took awhile to come out and it wasn’t because of the size of our group, but we later discovered they were making everything fresh for us. Unlike some of the other restaurants that simply reheat some of the ingredients and noodles etc.

i didn’t have the phở here, but I did have the grilled chicken over noodles — and it was damn good. I love that they speak viet and chinese here, have a really colorful and descriptive menu, and offer a wide range of desserts. The service is fast and friendly, the prices were decent, and the food was good.
My only complaint was that my friends phở was fairly small. But she said it was pretty good, and we’re all from California/​LA area so I’d say if its good enough for us, its good enough for you. Yeah that was a little bit of CA elitism wasn’t it?

Phở So Mot (1) is like a breath of fresh air in the lacking Vietnamese options in the city. It just happens to be tucked away in the back of Mott Street in a basement that often goes unnoticed. That may be its one lacking fault, as many restaurants have gone the way of the dinosaur here (Lucky 11 or the dreaded So Go, even the cheapo Hing Long) and hopefully this place will continue to thrive.
The restaurant is small but quaint. Unlike the previous establishments, Phở So Mot is clean and has created enough space for big groups with some actual round tables. Often times they’ll have a flat screen TV playing Vietnamese /​Chinese programs, drowning out most of the quiet ambiance. On a whole, the service is real decent and the owner is friendly. Like most other Vietnamese restaurants, the staff speaks both Chinese and Vietnamese.
The food is most definitely quality and there is plenty of variety on the menu. I am impressed with their Bun Dac Biet and especially their Phở. The broth was fresh as it was tasty and the noodles were just perfect. Another dish that look extra impressive was the Com Tam Suon Bi Cha, which was presented quite well. Prices are also very good as most of the items are $ 10 and below.
There is so much more here that I would like to try, it’s practically a guarantee I’ll be back again and again. Right now, they’re holding a grand opening special in which everything is 10% off. I am sure that will be there till the end of the year at least.
They are definitely So Mot (No.1) in my book. Cam on Phở So Mot! (Thank you Phở So 1).