Pho Hiep & Grill- someplace else in the same neighborhood.

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog- a diary of what Kirk. ed (from Yuma), Cathy and a few others eat.  We don't "review", we merely describe.  Sometimes without a thesaurus.

Hi.  Since I saw Kirk just posted about durian fro-yo from Flavaful, I thought I could just finish up talking about eating at the the only place on that corner of town (Linda Vista and Ulric 92111) that we from this little blog have not talked about in the last 12 months. 

Yes, Kirk did blog about it a few years ago , when it was called Pho Hoa Hiep, so it's about time for an update anyhow.  Pho (Hoa)  Hiep (& Grill) has been here since 1991.

It is across from the landromat  just around the corner from Flavaful Yogurt , which is next to Thuan Phat, which is next to Yum Cha Cafe, just across the parking lot from Pho Hoa Huong, which is next to LV Sandwiches across the street from Olga's Food Place, which is just across the other street from Sab-E-Lee. {OK, I skipped the taco shop on the other corner, and I can go there and eat again, soon, with my camera this time and let you know about it.}

The reason The Mister and I like this place is because they never skimp on add ins for pho.  There are always two pieces of "sawtooth" for beef soups, plenty of bean sprouts, basil, jalapeno and usually a half of a lime (or lemon, depending on the timeof year) to squeeze in.   

 I have always enjoyed the deep anise flavored, rich,  broth here and the fresh cilantro and non-mushy/non-"clump" of noodles served.  This is pho tai (rare sliced beef) and it is $5.50 for a small and $6.35 for large.

As an aside, Pho Hiep is the very first place I ever had pho and The Mister and I clearly remember when we first ordered, many, many years ago, pointing to what we thought we wanted (Dac Biet) and our waitress (yes this is one of very very few pho restaurants where women take your order) told us, quite clearly "You no want that" and then directed us to what we apparently did want...  

On one recent visit, I got the #52 Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio ($6.95) Char-Broiled pork and spring rolls on top of chilled rice vermicelli on top of a shredded salad  which includes lettuces and mint.  This pretty much is my "to go"  Vietnamese dish in the summer.  Except the other day, I went all wild and crazy and got #57-

Bun Bo Nuong Cha Ngo- Also $6.95 and grilled beef instead of grilled pork. I like the flavor of the  grilled pork a bit more than the grilled beef, though.  But both are good.

The Mister ordered #63 - Bun Mang Vit (small- $5.95) (large is $6.95)- young bamboo and duck meat soup.  Another wonderfully flavorful rich broth, not too oily, and served with

The traditional toppings for duck ,which include cabbage and lettuce, as well as the bean sprouts, jalapeno and lime.  The young bamboo is tasty with a good texture and the duck meat is plentiful and flavorful.  We were lucky enough to get the liver in the soup today.

Since it was a *hot* day, we each got our own fresh made lemonade ($2.35 each).  The one on the right is Da Chanh- regular lemonade-fresh squeezed and the sugar was dissolved with warm water.  The one on the left, Soda Chanh, is fresh squeezed with club soda added. You can see the sugar still on the bottom of the glass, needing to be mixed in because it was not dissolved.  Much sweeter.

Now you pretty much have our take on all the places to eat at that intersection, where there is, unusually,  a good parking situation.

Pho Hiep & Grill 6947 Linda Vista Road, #H San Diego 92111 website (the site only has the Chula Vista menu listed- prices at this Linda Vista location are less; I have a paper copy and can scan it for you)

Happy Birthday to my brother! Happy Bastille Day to all of my friends who celebrate!

Comments

[Kirk]

Hey Cathy - This area sure has come alive over the last year!

[nhbilly]

Sounds like a decent no frill and thrill place for decent Vietnamese food if only there is one that is decent here.

[Hannah]

I just got back from Pho Superbowl. I just love it. It is the only Vietnamese restaurant I have ever been to, and I am wondering- is it a good representation of traditional food? I will have to try this place too. Is it near Yum Cha?

[Hannah]

Oh duh, just saw that its in the same parking lot, hahaha.

[caninecologne]

hi cathy
so, why do you think the woman said, 'you no want that'? did she steer you away to something more "safe"?

there's also a pho hiep down south in chula vista...same owners.

[sawyer]

lol i've been to that taco shop b4. i'll have to try this pho place next time i'm down...i love sawtooth and only other place i've seen give it is lucky. i'm going to have a try a lemonade at a viet place next time too...looks good. is this your favorite pho place?

[Cathy]

I could easily survive if I were stuck on that corner, Kirk.

There's the super fast order one- Pho Hoa Huong- which Kirk blogged about, Bill. The Mister and I always joke about how we have to know what we want before we walk in.

Pho Superbowl is very good, Hannah. It is a "nicer" atmosphere and the food is good and close to authentic, but not as deep or varied in flavors as at the places in this neighborhood. Since you have experienced the sticky tables at Yum Cha, then Hiep or Hoa Huong wouldn't scare you away. Yes, it's on the other side of the Rite Aid store...

We were initially ordering something that came with blood and tripe and ended up with chicken soup and a rice dish, CC. Still, we persisted and really enjoy the variety of food offered at pho joints. I see Kirk blogged about the Chula Vista location and am glad to see pho places open in that Telegraph canyon area. Prices are different at that location.

I have had to ask for sawtooth at some places, Sawyer. They do have it but don't automatically give it. This is my second favorite pho place. Lucky is the best, to me. I always get hot tea, but have been trying the beverage menus a lot lately- kind of a dessert for me...:D

[Carol]

Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio is also my go-to during hot weather! The lemonade looks so good.

[SDFoody]

you don't review, you merely describe? sometimes without a thesaurus? what the hell does that mean? sounds bitchy to me.

[Cathy]

Reviewers are paid to write up an article, or get their meals for free, SDFoody. None of us who write here have done that. We eat, pay and then write about it. We blog.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/blog) mmm-yoso is an online diary; nothing more.

[Kirk]

Hi SDFoody - It means that we just merely describe what we enjoyed or didn't enjoy about our meals. In our lexicon, we really don't do "reviews".....so how is that "b*****"? One more request.....I usually delete comments using profanity, so please, can you choose your words a bit better in the future? Thanks!