A RenewLV meeting on April 27 took me close to Pho Vung Tau, a Vietnamese restaurant operating continuously on Union Blvd. on Allentown's far east side for at least 15 years. It's been a stalwart, but my experiences have been passable -- nothing bad, but nothing great. Friday's visit was just that. I ordered a beef and carrot stew that was ideal for the cool, misty midday. The French bread promised by the menu was a halved sandwich roll charred on a grill. Ugh. What could have been a crusty, hearty complement was a tasteless, spongy eyesore.
Things were more promising at Little Saigon, which I've reviewed previously. After reviewing the extensive menu -- which features pho (beef rice noodles soup), bun (rice vermicelli) and a variety of duck, chicken, pork, beef and seafood entrees -- I decided to try the beef-pork-chicken vermicelli special, which was labeled hot and spicy -- my kind of meal. I broke a gentle sweat as ground chilis and garlic and other spices exploded onto my palate with each bite. Ultra-crispy bean sprouts with shreds of fresh herbs proved a wonderful foil for the intense flavor of the entree. The vermicelli also served to temper the heat. The portion was huge -- I could only finish about 2/3 of it. The $10.50 was a bit steep for a small restaurant, but worth it.
Rather than opting for just water or a Diet Coke, I tried a chrysanthemum tea drink. With cane sugar sweetener rather than the cloying and ubiquitous high fructose corn syrup, the tea drink was light, refreshing and unlike anything produced in the states.Between the two, I'd spend my most of my time at Little Saigon. Pho Vung Tau, though reliable, seems stale compared to its newer counterpart.
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4 comments:
You have not lived until you've enjoyed pho. Unfortunately, netiher of the local restauants do very well at it. In fact, the A-town restaurant is not even owned by Vietnamese.
The best place for pho is in Philly at any of the restaurants along Washington Street. That's not in Chinatowen, but is instead a miles from the link.
What's good about pho is all the stuff that comes with it. Yes, it starts out as a beef noodle soup. But then you add beansprouts, basil, hoison sauce, hot chile sauce, a hot pepper, and squeeze lime juice into it. You put these in according to your own taste. The finished product juist explodes with flavor in your mouth.
You'll never have a better bowl of soup than a good pho dish.
what about the tiny hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese place on 4th street, like half a block north off of Tilgman st? has anyone ever been there?
I stopped into that place on 4th a couple of years ago. At that time, all the place served was deli sandwiches and sodas. (Frankly, it looked a little shady.) . Go figure. Perhaps it's changed. I'll try to swing by soon to see what's up.
Little Saigon competes well with the numerous Pho places in Philly. I am very satisfied with their quality of food and comfortable setting. It doesn't have me missing Philly at all.
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