Pho Bac Ky

Pho Bac Ky
5329 University Drive
Irvine, CA 92612
949-857-0856
http://www.phobac.com/

I have sampled countless bowls of Pho, and the one that you find at Pho Bac Ky is one of the best.

Pho is popular Vietnamese soup dish that includes a vermicelli noodles and a variety of meats, such as rare beef, brisket, meatballs, tendon and tripe. The choice is yours at Pho Bac Ky, because you can choose any combination of the various meats on the menu.



I tend to order the Pho Dac Biet, which is a combination of the above. Another great options is the Pho with charbroiled beef, which includes a side of flavorful sliced beef. If you have never had Pho, start with the combination bowl, so you can have a taste of each of the various meats and see how they taste after soaking in the soup.

As always, a garnish of sprouts, cilantro, mint leaves, limes, and chilis are provided for you to add at your leisure. I enjoy adding the mint and then taking a bit of it with the various meats after it has had a few minutes to soak. With most small bowls offered at $6.25 to $6.50 and the large bowls offered at $6.85 to $7.50, the price is perfect. You can often find cheaper Pho in Garden Grove and Westminster, but I certainly feel that the atmosphere at Pho Bac Ky is much nicer than that of many other Pho restaurants I have tried. In fact, for a local Pho cafe, I would argue that this is one of the nicest ones.

As for other options, do not let the name fool you, Pho Bac Ky has a full menu of Vietnamese dishes, including Bun, or bowls of vermicelli nooodles with a meat topping. As with most Asian fare, you also have the option of ordering rice in lieu of noodles.

The selection of popular Vietnamese drinks includes the tasty three bean drink, which includes a layer of mint-flavored drink, red beans, and some sort of jello or hard jelly pieces.

Lastly, I feel I stress how much I appreciate the service at Pho Bac Ky. Having eaten at countless Pho restaurants, I can say that I have never seen a staff so attentive to refilling my water and soda. Usually, I have to catch the attention of the water, which can be a daunting task in itself. Here, the waiters constantly check on you, and that is something for which I commend them.

For a complete, tasty meal under $10 per person, you cannot go wrong at Pho Bac Ky.

Until next time... dine on.