Pho Ngoc Vietnamese Restaurant

[Wilbur]

An early morning visit to the slice of Chandler south of the 202 meant we ended up hungry and ready for breakfast, but we don't really know the area at all. Fortunately for us, Google Maps pointed us to Pho Ngoc, were we sat down for pho and banh.

The restaurant must be newly opened, as we saw a lot of physical evidence of such novelty around as we sat down. Two ladies had a long gossip to my left, and a large family came in right after us and made a strong assault on the menu, so in addition to our own small order, we got to see and smell some of the rest of the offerings. Everything looked nice and the aromas were enchanting, and the ladies and the family did not seem at all disappointed in their breakfasts.

My wife's banh had ingredients with sharply distinguishable tastes, and the baguette was clearly fresh out of the oven. We didn't see or smell a bakery oven, so perhaps it comes from elsewhere, but if you are there around 8AM, apparently fresh bread is available.

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My pho tai bo vien also included garden-fresh vegetables and herbs - I don't think the basil or the cilantro had been refrigerated overnight. The soup broth was strongly flavored with pepper and star anise, so it had a higher, alto or tenor flavor that I found very much to my taste. The rice noodles were also exactly to my taste - not overdone, nor underdone, and with the right amount of potato-y flavor.

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The tables had two different types of chili paste and large bottles of Sriracha as well, so if you want the pho to sparkle as it goes down, that is possible without any special requests. I also liked the Nước chấm served with the cha gio, as it was garlicky in the way I want.

So we didn't order anything unusual, but the basic dishes were very, very good. Perhaps this is just because the dew is still on the rose in a new restaurant, but if you are in the area for breakfast, this place rings the bell.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/V2aRV1JsXeoM2qjM7
4960 S Alma School Rd
Chandler, AZ 85248