Noodling Around City Heights - Pho Ca Dao (El Cajon Boulevard)

Welcome to another "Noodling Around Post" as I make my way down both El Cajon Boulevard and University Avenue from 54th Street. Well, right in the same parking lot as the often overlooked Tan Ky Mi Gia is Pho Ca Dao. I believe this is the original location, way before restaurants in Santee, Mira Mesa, Chula Vista, and Rancho Bernardo came into existence.

PCD was the perfect choice for this morning; first off, I hadn't been here for almost 4 years! And they open at 7am...….I arrived at around 730 and there were more than a few tables slurping about. Say what you will; even I thought it was pretty chilly this past morning at 44 degrees in Bay Park.....but a look out the window where and you'd never know it.

Much has changed on the "pho-rizon" over the years; two things fairly quickly became apparent....the young lady serving me had a nice bright smile on.....quite different from the "dealing out the menu and standing silently over you" for an order. Also, the #4, which what I usually order here (today was no different), was a mere $4.95 in 2006. These days I thought the $7.95 price was a steal for pho in San Diego.

Also these days; I feel like I hit the lottery when I actually get some Ngo Gai along with the standard issue sprouts and basil. What was quite interesting was that the young lady also brought me chili oil and sliced onions even though I hadn't requested it.....perhaps this is SOP these days?

I've always noticed that there a certain pattern to the bowl of pho at PCD.

A rather generous clump of noodles is placed in the bottom of the bowl. The protein is then placed in a layer; tripe under everything, with the flank, brisket, well done steak, and tendon each occupying a quarter of the surface area.

On previous visits, the broth had been on the salty-MSG heavy side; today it was on the typical "San Diego sweeter" side, but also had beefy tones. Which would not been too bad, except the soup was barely past lukewarm; thus the bean sprouts and such didn't soften, and the broth had a weird, greasy tongue feel to it.

I had always enjoyed the tendon at this location of PCD and today it was still tender and buttery, but there wasn't much of it in the bowl. The nice portion of tripe was crunchy, with no off flavors. Because of the broth temperature, the tastelessness of the flank and brisket were quite apparent and it was also on the cold side.

The noodles were good with a nice chew, except it seemed that I had gotten all of the broken short pieces off banh pho....lots of shorter pieces that really cut down on one's eating enjoyment.

So, not quite what I expected here. And as a nice parting gift, the young lady working the register did a nice job of reminding me what classic pho shop service used to be like......oh, yes....the good old days!

Pho Ca Dao
5223 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115
Hours:
Open Daily 7am - 9pm 

Comments

[kat]

:(

[Elle]

That original location has been there since I was in high school. I also remember when it use to be an Arby's! I noticed they changed the menu a bit in the Mira Mesa one a while back and added items like bo ne (steak and eggs).

[Kirk]

It was quite disappointing Kat!

I know they had Pho Duoi Bo for a while at the MM location Elle. Not sure if they still do....I guess I gotta get back there. I didn't know that it used to be an Arby's! That's interesting.

[Sandy]

There's one in Poway, too. When that restaurant opened, the menu was different than the Mira Mesa one. It wasn't long after that Mira Mesa's menu was updated in a similar fashion. I get the impression that the locations in the 'burbs have been Americanized more. I haven't been to the El Cajon Blvd one in ages.

[Kirk]

Hi Sandy - I think you're right....though I just looked and it seems that PCD on MM has Oxtail Pho.....I need to check it out.

[Junichi]

Last time I went to Pho Hoa on ECB it was still all business.

[Kirk]

I was surprised at how sweet and friendlt my Server was Junichi! Though the gal at register was all business........just like old time!