The Clipper

Issue date: 3/12/10 Section: Sweet meal deals

Media Credit: Angela Cooper-McCorkle Good for what ails you: the traditional, delicious Vietnamese equivalent of chicken noodle soup.

Pho is the type of dish your mother would like to think you eat all the time while you're at college: strangely, it's also the kind of good-for-you dish you will actually enjoy eating, especially for $5.00, at Pho & Bubble Tea Express.

The rules are simple: show up between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and say "Pho me!" Okay, scratch that last part, you'll just look like a dork. But, do show up and claim your $5.00 meal in a bowl, which includes your choice of steak, meatball, brisket, chicken or veggie pho (or get a combo).

Service is so speedy, your pho will arrive seemingly almost before you order it.

The generously sized bowl will manage to hide a tangle of slightly glossy noodles under its pale golden surface; a surface sprinkled with green onions, a dozen or so slices of sauteed tofu, and chunks of carrots, celery and broccoli in the case of the veggie bowl.

The veggies are medium-crisp and fresh tasting, though the slightly chewy, almost buttery noodles are the main attraction. The broth holds its own, and is highly recommended for anyone under the weather, or coming off a hangover.

The soup is much improved by a lovely condiment tray including crisp, slightly sweet bean sprouts, so fresh I could almost taste the photosynthesis occuring. Also on the side were a large sprig of Thai basil, absolutely essential to the savoriness of the dish, a wedge of lime and three slices of seeded jalapeno.

I ordered the mild version, opting to add Sriracha hot sauce myself, but braver palates will appreciate the spicy version.

Upon leaving, you will be presented with two uncommonly well-written fortune cookies. On one recent visit, I was excited to find out I would "learn something new today," while my companion (my four year old daughter trying to get us thrown out by getting overly creative with the chopsticks) apparently has "executive ability prominent in [her] make up."

Unfortunately, the fortunes do not include lucky numbers, but at least I'll still be able to afford the pho, even without winning the lottery.

Price Check

Pho lunch special: $5.00 (including tax!)
Ice water: free

Pho Ha
2930 Colby Avenue

Hours: Mon. - Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sat. 11 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

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