Why go: The area’s best, most nourishing fast food from the place that launched the local pho phenomenon three decades ago. Sitting at one of the long communal tables with diners enjoying the noodles makes you feel you’re in a scene out of Tampopo.
What to get: The all-meatball pho; numbers 3, 5, and 9, which offer a nice mix of offal and leaner meats; fresh lemonade; dark, condensed-milk iced coffee.
Best for: A meal on the go that refreshes the spirit and quiets the mind.
Insider tip: Request sawtooth herb in your packet of aromatics along with mint and holy basil; the serrated green fronds lend an unmistakable perfume and a pleasant bitterness to the broth. Thin, sliced onions, available as a side order (50 cents), are an excellent addition, too.
Open daily for lunch and dinner.
See all Cheap Eats 2008 restaurants
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.
