Le's Pho

I've been meaning to update... I haven't been back here for about a year now. Why? Because I saw a couple beetles scurrying across the floor. I'm sure it's avoidable in most hole-in-the-way restaurants, but I'd rather not chance it. I spent most of my meal worrying a bug would drop in to my soup than enjoying it. Makes me sad, because I really did enjoy their pho. :(

This is my place for Pho.
It's delicious soup done right. Nothing fancy about it.
I have been coming here for years, even when it was a different pho place (same location different owner) and it has barely changed.
The soup starts out with the best broth ever combined with tasty noodles, your choice of multiple different meats and seafood (if you're not an adventurous eater I recommend you stick to just flank steak), topped with fresh bean spouts, basil leaves, and green chili pepper slices.
I typically go with a small pho and a bahn mi sandwich and I never leave hungry.

P.S.
Their bowls are gigantic.

Le's is almost a replicate of what restaurants look like in Vietnam - as if years living in America did not change these people's perception about what a restaurant should look like. Hence the "bizarre" decor: Mirrors are on all side as restaurants in Vietnam lack space so they used mirrors to fake bigger space.

Of course, that means for Americans - especially for those who are used to the customers-are-always-right attitude - are not gonna be a fan of the way Vietnamese communicate: inexpensive restaurants are never rated on their customer service - only their ability to make good food.

On to the food, I must say this is one of the most authentic experiences I had having pho in America. I am especially appalled by many people who claim expertise with Vietnamese cuisine. Here are some reasons for you to consider loving Le's:

A) In Vietnam, there's no such thing as Pho Special with all things you can imagine in. The Pho Everything is Pho Tai Nam Gau. And no, meatballs are not a part of the original Pho bowl. They are Chinese cuisine. If you come in and complain a bowl of Pho does not have meatballs, you probably have been fed the wrong types of Pho. (Meatball Pho is more of a product of Asian Americans).Le's Pho has the typical, authentic menu - no Pho Special!

B) the broth is great and the noodles are chewy enough.

C) It has Small and Large bowls. These options are typical for real Vietnamese restaurants. Wasting food is considered a sin in Vietnam so there has always been Large and Small bowl options. In Saigon, there is also an option of the Tank bowl (which is how Tank Noodles got its name). Ever since Vietnamese moved to the US, it seems that they start assuming that people all want giant bowls that they can never finish.

D) They provide a free pot of tea. I don't mind paying the extra $1 but having some tea after each meal is a tradition in Vietnam. All restaurants offer them for free because it's is *courtesy*. It's a shame restaurants think they should start charging everything.

E) my durian smoothie was good.

So for all those who pretend to know real Vietnamese restaurants - please don't pretend so just because you had some Pho in California. Deeper philosophy exists in Vietnamese cuisine and etiquette.

Also, I came really early and they had steamed buns out.