I just had the pho dac biet at Pho Ha Noi yesterday. Almost my perfect idea of what pho should taste like. They even had the superior thick steak cuts (unlike the ubiquitious thin cuts). I prefer my pho not clear, but more fatty with globules of oil/fat collecting around the rim of the bowl, so I might try to order a fatty broth and see if they’ll comply with that.
Otherwise this place is legit in my book. Though I find Vietnam Town a bit unsettling and creepy, like what I imagine “Paris town” or “America town” to feel like in China.
I also have a perfectly good banh mi combination sandwich at the food-to-go next to Pho Ha (not Ha Noi). Had the left over half today and the bread maintained its softness. Maybe a little too much meat, but a nice amount of Viet mayo, and I wish it had a stronger tasting liverwurst.
