It's been over five years since I posted on Pho Hoa...well this Pho Hoa, not that Pho Hoa, so I figure it was time for another post on what I consider the oldest, of the old school type pho shops in San Diego.
Not much has really changed except the prices have gone up a buck. The low ceilings, sticky tables, banquet chairs, rather dark atmosphere......a great place for a zombie apocalypse horror movie set. For some reason, on this day, it smelled kind of dank in the place. In shops like these you can usually smell the "Eau de Pho"....on this day the place just smelled off.
Still, the place was the same in most ways. Like the placement of the bean sprouts, herbs, and lime on the table along with the menu.
I guess this kind of makes sense since what else are you going to order here? They do pho. Unlike the decor and atmosphere, everything on the plate is sparkling fresh, especially the Ngo Gai (culantro) and the amounts were generous, totally the opposite of most places these days.
The bowl was a perfect illustration of the inconsistency of the place. A couple of months back I visited for a quick bowl. I was in a rush so didn't bother to take photos. That bowl had a decent beef flavor, decent fat, with perhaps a bit too much MSG. This bowl was fiercely defatted, though the color was dark and clear. The flavor had a mild beefiness to it but was over-shadowed by an unpleasant burnt bitterness. The noodles were overcooked and mushy as well. The protein was decent, especially the flank and brisket cuts, as well as the tripe. The tendon was a mixed bag, a couple of moderately tender pieces and a few pieces tough as a rubbah' slippa'. That has been Pho Hoa's M.O. over the years. Though the place is the model of consistency in other areas; the efficient service that borders on indifference and that old and worn atmosphere that seems to be beloved by the old timers who eat here.
Pho Hoa Restaurant
4717 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115
I don't think I've had pho in El Cajon since Mira Mesa is so much closer to me. I was smiling when I read culantro b/c I learned of that herb from your blog (thought you were mistyping cilantro at first!).
I was asking Jinxi about the MSG. What does pho taste like without MSG?
Posted by: Faye | Monday, 25 November 2013 at 11:38 AM
Hi Faye - You'd have to depend more on the beef and other flavors.......actually, the places where I've had pho without MSG here in the states has been closer to Chinese in flavor, more anise, more onion, more pungent, and honestly, in many cases, not necessarily better. I've also had places where they just kill it with salt as well, which is doing almost the same thing.
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 25 November 2013 at 02:51 PM
looks perfect for our weather these days!
Posted by: kat | Monday, 25 November 2013 at 05:33 PM
Perfect for ours too....though we're kinda wimpy here in San Diego!
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 25 November 2013 at 06:07 PM
If it smelled that bad I would have hit that U-Turn so fast.
Posted by: nhbilly | Tuesday, 26 November 2013 at 07:36 AM
Hi Billy - The funny....and maybe sad thing is; I've smelled worse......
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 26 November 2013 at 09:48 AM
WTF! Why submit to the torture? Yoso-Crazeee
I admit some smelly funky food do taste good but pho done right should not have a funk.
Posted by: nhbilly | Wednesday, 27 November 2013 at 06:37 AM
LOL Billy! Actually, the place had a smell, not the pho....though it tasted bitter.
Posted by: Kirk | Wednesday, 27 November 2013 at 06:54 AM