Spring Break
All Hail the King of Pho
A Restaurant Review
Frank Loret de Mola
Issue date: 1/27/07 Section: Dining & Nightlife Guide
Pho (pronounced "fuh") is a beef and white rice noodle soup that originates in North Vietnam. It is also the second most important culinary invention in the subjective history of Frank Loret de Mola, both for its tastiness and for its ability to cure hangovers better than four raw eggs doused with pickle juice. (The greatest culinary invention: Jack Daniels.) The soup is traditionally flavored with basil, mint leaves and coriander. It also includes either tendon or bible tripe, for additional chewy goodness to slow you down so you don't just suck down that sweet, sweet broth.
But, for those of us who do know pho, and do know Sacramento, for those of us who are willing, in our never-ending quest for the best bowl of pho in all the land, to traverse deep into South Sacramento, almost to Florin Road, just off Stockton and 65th street, therein lies the King of Pho: Pho King 2.
Yes. I know you said it out loud to yourself. Fuh. King. Great. Now shake those giggles out. There's important reviewing that needs to get done here. Are you going to be all right? Well, take as much time as you need.
Okay. Now the first question that anyone asks is, why is it Pho King 2? Well, the reason is that the original Pho King is located in Downtown Oakland. The pho there is just as good as the soup in Sacramento, except they have an extra large bowl.
Now, as long as you didn't decide to eat pho on a Wednesday (they're closed on Wednesdays), you'll know when you've entered the Kingdom of Pho. The minute you enter there are three waiters/waitresses pointing you towards the same table to sit your party down. After you do as they instruct, they'll hand you menus, and, if you're a first timer, you'll take one glance and be immediately confused. What's eye of round steak? Well done flank, rare flank, fat brisket? Is this healthy?
If you're into healthy food, they'll have a plate of bean sprouts, coriander, mint leaves, jalapeños and sometimes a couple of limes to munch on. I encourage you to be brave and grab any bowl between number one and number seven. This ensures you get at least two different cuts of beef and tendon and/or bible tripe. Also have a chuckle, when you notice that they forgot the second b, leaving "bile tripe" pasted on the menu.
But, for those of us who do know pho, and do know Sacramento, for those of us who are willing, in our never-ending quest for the best bowl of pho in all the land, to traverse deep into South Sacramento, almost to Florin Road, just off Stockton and 65th street, therein lies the King of Pho: Pho King 2.
Yes. I know you said it out loud to yourself. Fuh. King. Great. Now shake those giggles out. There's important reviewing that needs to get done here. Are you going to be all right? Well, take as much time as you need.
Okay. Now the first question that anyone asks is, why is it Pho King 2? Well, the reason is that the original Pho King is located in Downtown Oakland. The pho there is just as good as the soup in Sacramento, except they have an extra large bowl.
Now, as long as you didn't decide to eat pho on a Wednesday (they're closed on Wednesdays), you'll know when you've entered the Kingdom of Pho. The minute you enter there are three waiters/waitresses pointing you towards the same table to sit your party down. After you do as they instruct, they'll hand you menus, and, if you're a first timer, you'll take one glance and be immediately confused. What's eye of round steak? Well done flank, rare flank, fat brisket? Is this healthy?
If you're into healthy food, they'll have a plate of bean sprouts, coriander, mint leaves, jalapeños and sometimes a couple of limes to munch on. I encourage you to be brave and grab any bowl between number one and number seven. This ensures you get at least two different cuts of beef and tendon and/or bible tripe. Also have a chuckle, when you notice that they forgot the second b, leaving "bile tripe" pasted on the menu.
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