pho – Page 2 – Every Day is a Food Day

On Remembrance Day, I didn’t have work or school, so it was a pretty chill day for me. Only thing was the house was left with just my dad and I, and we were both too lazy to cook. So off we headed out to look for food close by. My dad ended up suggesting Pho Lan, since it was close to our house and he was also craving some Vietnamese food. To be honest, I used to never want to even step inside this restaurant. The restaurant looks old and dirty from the outside, but last year, my dad finally dragged me in, and ever since, I’ve been okay with the place. And after hearing the great reviews about it, I guess I will enter a less pleasant looking place if it means good food. I’ve only visited Pho Lan once before this time, but each time I arrive, the place is jammed pack with people. It might have to do with the fact that the place is really small! When you enter from the back door and try to make your way up to the front, you really got to squeeze by those chairs on either side of you. It’s THAT tight fitting. But nevertheless, it is always filled with people.

Pho Lan Special Beef Noodle Soup (Medium)

We waited for approximately 5 minutes to get a table, and boringly enough, my dad and I ended up with the same order – Pho Lan Special Beef Noodle Soup. It’s got everything in it, including rare steak, well done flank, tendon, tripe and beef balls. I’m always so indecisive so I always get the specials for pho. I got the medium and my dad got the large. It’s pretty hard to tell from the pictures that the bottom bowl is much larger than the first. So the pictures don’t really do justice. But the large is much larger than the medium!

Pho Lan Special Beef Noodle Soup (Large)

From the last time I ate here, I remember that the soup used to be really good. And frankly, that’s what makes a good pho – at least in my opinion. Sadly, I didn’t think that the soup this time was any good. My dad and I both agreed that the soup didn’t taste the same as last time’s, and that it overall, wasn’t as good anymore. However, service was still extremely friendly and polite. I would probably opt to go somewhere else next time though, unless they improve on their soup again. Prices are definitely great for the quantity you get though!

MENU:

I actually never even knew Pho Tai Hoa existed to be honest, until my friend brought me there. We wanted to go to Pho Hoa, which is on Alexandra, but of course parking was limited and we had to go somewhere else. So we ended up at Pho Tai Hoa, which is in the mall near Capstan Way. I never even realized this place at the corner! Well, now I know another Pho place to go to! The decor inside was really interesting. It had a lot of cruise ship decor, with painted sky walls, cruise ship railings, and wooden plank floors. I wonder if this was just the decor left from the previous restaurant or they designed it. Kind of weird actually…But okay, let’s get to the food. I usually get the House Special at Pho places, so I got a small Pho Dac Biet. I like getting House Specials since it usually includes an assortment of ingredients, from tripe, beef balls, beef tendon, to beef flank. It was alright, nothing too special about it, and the size was normal. Soup did taste a little different, but it wasn’t something that I extremely liked or disliked. Not bad I guess, but I will have to try their other food to get a better taste of this place. There were probably only 4 other tables occupied though, but then again, it was a weekday and a little early. Maybe I’ll give it another try!