Pho Xpress - Mission Gorge Road

A couple of months back, the Missus sent me on a mission.... of course it was mission She wanted no part of. You see, the Missus claimed that a certain feature wasn't working on Her camera, and had bugged me about since we had gotten back from China. Of course the Missus wasn't about to take the camera in, or even accompany me... since, good lord, "it's technical, and god forbid, you might have to change batteries and stuff...." So I arrive at the camera shop, and walk to the counter and explain that my wife claims the camera isn't working properly. The guy kinda smirks, and then tells me, "this model doesn't come with that feature...." He then calls to the guy in the back, asking him to confirm. Of course the guy in the back is cracking up..... I'm glad I made their day. As I slunk off out the door I swore I heard the sound of laughter in the background....... When I told the Missus that the camera does not come with the so called "feature", She laughed and said, "oh really, how funny....." Yeah..... how funny.

On the way home, I decided to soothe my bruised ego in a bowl of Pho. I'd passed Pho Xpress a couple of times, and decided that this was the perfect time for a bowl of Pho.

 

Like many Pho shops that have sprouted up over the years..... the set-up looked like a conversion from a steam table fast-foot joint. Or perhaps it was built that way. There's a small dining area to the left of the counter and steam table and I had a seat.

 

This pace was a typical "A-B" (All Business) Pho shop, at least on this morning it was, I was pointed to a seat without a word, a menu placed in front of me, and water arrived soon after.

I requested a small "combination" minus the rare steak ($5.99). Based on the herbs and bean sprouts placed before me, I mentally set the bar very low.....

 

But taking one look at the broth when my bowl arrived changed all of that.

 

The fragrance of the broth was nice and comforting and the soup clear . The flavor, while straightforward, was quite good, perhaps lacking the anise-clove tones, but nicely beefy, and fairly rich as well.

 

The various cuts of beef were prepared well, nothing spectacular, but better than average. The amount of meat provided was a bit on the stingy side; but it's the broth that makes the Pho for me, and tis was good. The noodles were a bit on the soft side, but passable.

 

If this is the norm for Pho Xpress, I'd put this in my top 5-6 bowls with regards to Pho broth in San Diego. I'll need to return soon. My good FOY "YY" told me that the Pho Xpress in the Gaslamp is also pretty good; not as rich and the broth a bit lighter, so I'll need to check them out soon.

Like I mentioned before, service here was all business. I'm not sure that anyone spoke more than a single word to me the entire time. If you're expecting a Pho meat-fest go elsewhere. Still, the soup was hot, it tasted good, and was the perfect salve for a bruised ego on this day......

Pho Xpress
6533 Mission Gorge Rd
San Diego, CA 92120

Open Daily from 9 - 9

Comments

[Roland]

My company has a office down there, next to Kaiser and I often stop there for lunch. IMHO it's in the top three north of the 8.

[kat]

yes please! it is 7C (44F) here!

[Kirk]

Hi Roland - I'm thinking it might be in my top three South of the 52! ;o)

Hi Kat - Ooooh, it's starting to get pretty cold.

[Food detective]

If you're hungry and you want Pho in north county, try Pho Saigon Express. They give you ngo gai. Lots of meat if you get the one with everything( not the special) broth is pretty good with al dente noodles. Don't eat at Kim's Pho or Pho San Marcos (they have brown broth-yuck). There's a new baguette place next to PSM.

[Kirk]

Hey TFD - I've got to make it back up there again.

[Sandy]

Maybe the camera shop guys thought it was *you* and not your wife who didn't know about the camera!

This place looks like it's in the same strip mall as Vons.

[Kirk]

Hi Sandy - I don't think it matters who I said the camera belonged to..... it was about the person bringing it in. And yes, I believe it is in that strip mall.

[Fred]

That's next to where a good friend of mine lives, I've been there a few times. Oddly, I've never had the pho there, usually going for the chow mein or other non-pho dishes. The bot chien is pretty good.

One guy always tried to make conversation with me, maybe because he recognized me from going there with my friend. My friend drops large tips whenever she eats there.

[Rosa]

LOL! I have to give the Missus a *high five* cuz that is so something I'd do to my Husband. :)

I'm in SD Mon/Tues and sooo going to satiate my need for Vietnamese. Got any suggestions for new places to try in general in the Mira Mesa/Convoy area?

[Michael]

hi Kirk,
man it's a perfect day for a bowl of Pho!

[Kirk]

Hi Fred - You should try the Pho; I think the broth is pretty good.

Hi Rosa - Therte's nothing new that's worth trying...... I've been hecking out some new openings, but haven't been impressed thus far. I think either Aria Kabob House or Hal Mu Ni might be worth your time.

Hi Michael - Yes it was..... and yes it is for today too!

[Jo`]

Kirk, another awesome post. Love the missing feature... but when I read this:

"Like many Pho shops that have sprouted up over the years..... the set-up looked like a conversion from a steam table fast-foot joint"

LOL FAST-FOOT?!?! I nearly fell off the chair! Awesome slip of the tongue... err... thumb? ;o)

[Nick Ng]

"Like many Pho shops that have sprouted up over the years..... the set-up looked like a conversion from a steam table fast-foot joint. Or perhaps it was built that way. There's a small dining area to the left of the counter and steam table and I had a seat."

You are right. This place used to be Ginger Root Express, a Chinese fast-food place that my parents used to own and operate between 2003-Oct. 2007.

[Kirk]

Thanks for the tidbit and taking the time out to comment Nick! I'm always fascinated to learn what businesses preceded current ones.