After opening its first location in Garden Grove in the spring of 2023, Pho Flavor welcomed its second location in Fountain Valley on Friday, Feb. 23.
Menu items will be similar to its flagship location, including cha gio (fried spring rolls), iced teas and coffees, and of course, pho, the bone broth-based noodle soup that’s a staple of Vietnamese cuisine. Pho Flavor offers both southern and northern types of pho.
What’s the difference between southern and northern styles, you ask? According to a 2021 article in Tuoi Tre News (“Vietnam’s Northern vs. Southern Pho: Which is better?”), “One of the most obvious disparities is (that) northern pho normally uses flat noodles while the southern version has its noodles a little thicker.”
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Eater LA distinguished between the two styles in 2022 (“An Editor’s Favorite Beef Pho in Los Angeles,” 2022), reporting, “Generally speaking, northern-style pho is more focused on the broth, with just a few slices of rare steak swimming in a somewhat lighter broth. Meanwhile, southern-style pho incorporates more cuts like tendon, tripe, brisket, and flank amid a sweeter broth.”
Whatever regional style you select (Pho Flavor’s menu also comes with a handy chart explaining the differences), guests can choose from a bevy of proteins and add-ons like filet mignon, brisket, flank, tendon, honeycomb tripe, meatballs, garlic, onions, herbs and more. Additional highlights include an oxtail soup, a poached egg in pho broth and more.
Tim Bui, founder of Pho Flavor, said he hopes to open locations in Irvine and Anaheim later this year.
Find it: 16027 Brookhurst Street, # F, Fountain Valley
