The editor decided it was time for Vietnamese food, and that Pho Bac, at South Hanford Street and Rainier Avenue South, near Franklin High School, would be the place.
This was good news. I love pho.
My lunch companion was to be my 14-year-old son.
"Oh darn," he said when he heard the news. He learning the teenage art of irony. He loves pho too.
There was no wait for seating when we arrived about 12:15 Saturday afternoon. I guessed the restaurant would seat between 80 and 100 people, and it was about two-thirds full. I was delighted to see that the patrons were about 80 percent Asian. I always regard that as a good sign when I go into an Asian restaurant.
This was the most authentic Vietnamese restaurant I had been in in many years. It had the clean airy feeling, ceiling fans and white Formica tabletops of the better downtown restaurants in Nha Trang, Vietnam, I had been in many years ago. The walls and ceiling were hung with plants, real and artificial, and a palm frond thatched roof gable ran down the center of the room giving it a tropical feel. The biggest difference from the Nha Trang restaurants, as I explained to my son, is that the front wall was not open to the air.
Tea was brought to us as soon as we sat down. Condiments crowded round trays on each table and a container of chopsticks and Chinese-style spoons also graced each table. We watched other patrons select chopsticks and spoons, then carefully wipe them off with napkins. That looked like a good idea, what with the flu and all, and we copied them.
My son and I are pretty adept at using chopsticks. If you need a fork, you will have to ask for one.
Pho Bac, which is one of four restaurants in a Seattle chain, each with the same name, offered 15 varieties of pho - with beef brisket, round steak, meatballs, tendon and tripe individually or in combinations. The meat, except for the meatballs, is sliced thin.
Pho, for those who don't know, is pronounced "fuh," and is a mild broth to which is added meat, noodles, parsley and onions. It comes to the table with sprigs of fresh basil, bean sprouts, lime wedges and jalapeno peppers with which you can design your own bowl. The bean sprouts really add a nice crunchy texture. The basil really makes the soup, I think, and if you eat with me, grab some quick or you may not get any.
The menu is a card printed on both sides and stood up in one of those little clear plastic holders. Our holder advertised a brand of beer, but Pho Bac does not offer alcoholic drinks. I ordered a soda da chanh - fresh lime, soda and sugar - a drink of which I was very fond when I was in Vietnam. When it came it was just as refreshing as I remembered. Tor ordered a Nuoc Dua Tuoi - fresh coconut drink. The translucent, milky drink had slices of green coconut in it. It was a bit exotic for my son, so we traded drinks.
He thought the lime soda was great. It had been some time since I had green coconut, and I enjoyed the drink.
We also ordered pho, of course. Tor ordered round steak. I had the brisket. Large bowls were $6 and medium bowls were $5. If you have never ordered a large bowl of pho, then you are in for a surprise when it arrives. We ordered medium bowls, and they were just right. I watched as another diner received his large bowl, and thought of a diet tip from the famous movie star Miss Piggy. "Never eat anything bigger than your head."
Besides the pho the menu offered seven varieties of chicken over steamed rice, four of beef over steamed rice and six varieties of chow mein. All the dishes were $6. If they are all as good as the pho, then this place is a real find. We got out the door well satisfied and unable to eat another bite. The bill was just $14. That's a pretty good deal.
Pho Bac Restaurant is at 2815 S. Hanford Street, on the corner of Hanford and Rainier Avenue South. Phone 725-4418.
