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Portland's Best Pho: Cool days were made for a hot bowl of pho
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Jose Parra- A true Pho-natic
I have a confession to make. I love pho, especially when the weather turns cool. The steam rising up, bringing the scent of long slow-cooked broth, garlic, onions and noodles, the way that shimmering broth slides soothingly down the throat carrying the fresh combination of flavors: cilantro, basil, lime and jalapeño. These crisp, green accoutrements, floating amongst the noodles and thin slices of chicken or beef or chunks of seafood- the resulting elixir and fragrance is intoxicating.
Obviously, I am a fan and if you haven't experienced pho, yet (and I mean good pho), I highly recommend you do. Not only is it delicious and good for you- curing what ails you in the cold and flu season, but it's also totally cost-effective. A typical bowl of pho will run you around $6-$8 depending on the place and the type of meat and they are huge bowls- the small is way more than enough for a first timer (though I have a friend who loves the big bowl! But he’s a Pho-natic!)
Pho Oregon on NE 82nd is just about the best beef pho I have EVER had -- hands down. The broth is among the most richly flavored there is (which means they're simmering bones authentic-style and not short-cutting it with store-bought broth- a plus!) But to say you've had the beef pho at Pho Oregon is not saying much, as they 21 different beef versions of their ph0. Ranging from the King of all beef noodle soups, Pho dac biet (which loosely translated means the whole kit and caboodle) and comes one size only (Large $8), to an assortment of combinations using fatty brisket, flank, skirt steak, lean brisket, round steak, tendon, tripe and meatballs all the way to Pho nuag pin (or pho noodles with pizzle, which is beef or ox penis- I can safely say I have not tried this one!)
My favorite is the #12, Pho tai chin (noodles with slices of round steak and lean brisket) I recommend getting it with your round steak raw on the side. This is the most authentic way to eat it and the most delicious as your beef can get to your idea of perfect doneness, being added slowly to the hot broth (which cooks it) and therefore cooked to your liking. A squeeze of lime, a few jalapeños cut by the tableside scissors they provide and a squirt or two of Sriracha hot chili sauce or plumy hoisin and you are transported to another world. (Hint: try the salad rolls stuffed to the brim with veggies, mint, pork and shrimp- Yummy!)
When it comes to Pho ga (chicken and noodles) though, my money is on North Portland’s Pho Jasmine. What makes this one the winner is their golden broth. In the world of pho the best broth wins and at Pho Jasmine this honey colored tonic gets its flavor from the savory tones of chicken (simmering bones again) and copious amounts of garlic. The result is a rich yet not stringent broth that leaves your breath smelling sweet instead of harsh. The other thing that makes this pho stand out is their use of thinly sliced breast meat to top their gorgeous broth and delicate rice noodles. Most pho ga can be found swimming with dark thigh meat or a hodge podge of what fell off the bone when cooking the broth- not so at Pho Jasmine it’s nothing but juicy, lean white meat.
Other stand-outs on their menu (which includes a variety of Chinese stir fry and tasty salt and peppered squid and shrimp) are the veggie pho (fresh veggies steamed to perfection floating in a super flavorful broth with tofu), a seafood version and the ultimate, My Tho Special, a Seafood and Chicken combo which uses the same dreamy chicken broth and is loaded with plenty of tasty calamari, shrimp, chicken, and slices of fish cake- Yum! (Hot Tip: Try the vegetarian egg rolls or Cha gio chay, filled with tofu, mushrooms, eggs, cabbage, onions and silver thread noodles- scrumptious!)
Pho Oregon
2518 NE 82nd Ave.
(503) 262-8816
Pho Jasmine
714 N Killingsworth Ct
Portland, OR
(503) 283-0398
(Neither has a website.)
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