Even though I live in Philadelphia, I've been going to Viet Pho for years, and there's a reason for…read morethat. The first pho I ever tasted was at Viet Pho, and I thought wow, what a discovery, I'll be eating pho all over the place if it's always this good.
It's not. Having been to a number of other Vietnamese places, it is no exaggeration that I have never had pho anywhere that was even close to being as good as Viet Pho. For example, I once ordered pho somewhere else and was bluntly told they did not offer vegetable broth. Which I found impossible to believe, because Vietnamese cuisine is known for being super vegetarian friendly.
At Viet Pho, no such problem. The options for my vegetarian partner seem endless. Me, I start with the veggie broth, add in the vermicelli (you can ask for extra, they won't mind), finishing off with shrimp. I find that going with the vegetable broth makes the entire combination lighter, brighter even. A very clear base, accentuating everything else in the bowl. The shrimp, ample, firm and excellent. The vermicelli maintains its texture throughout, never turning mushy as I've found at other places. Top with as many bean sprouts as you can squeeze in, add a dash or two of hot sauce, and you're set.
My go-to appetizer is the fresh roll - shrimp please (you may sense a pattern). Chewy outside, crisp inside, the dipping sauce delectable. I've also tried their crunchy vegetable assortment appetizer, and though it is intended to be shareable, I wasn't in the mood to share, and consumed the entire plate myself.
Viet Pho is an easy-going, modest enterprise, trafficking as much in take-out as it does the dine-in crowd. Though the space is on the small side, a banquette lining the wall sets off the dining area, kicking it up a notch from what you find at many take-out places. True, the center of the seating area serves as a runway for the constant stream of meals heading out the door for pick-up, so things can get a bit bustling.
In fact ... I wish I had asked for her name. On a busy Saturday afternoon, the dining area as well as all the take-out was being managed by one and only one server. She was a dynamo, always on the go, back and forth across the floor, handling everything all by herself. Something to see, actually.
The modest strip-mall exterior of Viet Pho might make it easy to miss, but don't. I'm pretty sure you'll like what you find inside.