Why go: As with most pho houses, you won’t come for the atmosphere. But the stark interior doesn’t matter when the broth is this good—deeper, richer, and darker than you’ll find elsewhere.
What to get: Pho with any of the usual meat choices (brisket, flank steak, beef tendon) plus tripe, which adds flavor even if you don’t eat it; juicy pork chops with a slightly sweet marinade; thick Vietnamese coffee; almond-milk bubble tea.
Best for: Curing a hangover or a cold. Pho isn’t called “Vietnamese penicillin” for nothing.
Insider tip: Smoothies are on the too-sweet side. For a sugar fix, head to Raulin’s Bakery in the same shopping center.
>> See all 2010 Cheap Eats restaurants here
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
