Pho Hoa: hey Oklahoma City, it’s time to try some Pho
by Tim | March 31, 2008 | 50 Comments
Pho Lien Hoa
(4.51 with 49 votes)
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Oklahoma City, OK 31061
401-521-8089
Not everyone realizes it, but Oklahoma City actually has a very large and thriving Vietnamese population. The numbers I have seen show over 20,000 Vietnamese in the city. If you live where I do, this comes as no surprise as Oklahoma City’s Asian district demonstrates ample evidence of this vibrant culture. In fact, you can’t drive a block in nearly any direction from NW 23rd and Classen without passing multiple Pho restaurants.
Yet, how many people in our city know what Pho is, let alone have ever tried it? I think that Oklahoma City is blessed to have such a unique Asian culture thriving in its midst. So, come on everyone. Let’s take advantage of the opportunity to experience what I consider to be one of the best meals available. Pho is inexpensive, healthy, hearty, flavorful, unique, and good at any time of day.
If you’re looking to experience Pho in this city, I think Pho Hoa is a great place to start. My co-writer, Andrew, is also a frequenter of Pho Hoa, so I’ve asked him to add his impressions in here too. You’ll being seeing some quotes from him mixed in.
Pho Hoa sits in a somewhat run-down strip mall along 23rd street. On the inside, it is far larger and far nicer than what you expect from the exterior. There’s nothing really special about the interior. It’s pretty sterile, in fact, with all-white surfaces lit up by florescent lighting. But, it is clean and bright, with a lot of sunlight pouring in through the large street-facing windows (at least during the day, when I’ve been there).
What do they serve? Well, Pho, mostly. So, let’s talk about Pho, because I have found that not everyone knows what it is.
Pho is Vietnamese noodle soup. It generally consists of long, skinny rice noodles in a light broth with thinly-sliced pieces of meat that are often dropped rare into the scalding-hot liquid and, because they are so thin, they cook thoroughly in only a few minutes as the dish is prepared. The soup is then presented to the table alongside a dish of fresh herbs (mint and basil), limes, jalepenos, and bean sprouts that you can add at will to your own bowl. There are also a few sauces (hoisin sauce and Sriracha hot sauce at least) on the table that you can use to customize the flavor of your dish.
Andrew says, “The broth at Pho Hoa is fantastic. Chock full of star anise (my favorite under-utilized spice), it really has a unique flavor that is very filling. I like to load my bowl up with sprouts, a little basil, and a couple healthy squirts of Sriracha Hot Sauce. If you are suffering from a head cold, go get a big bowl of this, squirt in a little more Sriracha than you would normally dare, and watch your head clear and your symptoms fade. Magic.”
Now, the menu at Pho Hoa is large and you might get a little overwhelmed when you first look at it, because it’s got a lot of different kinds of soup. There are different kinds of noodles and different combinations of meat. Don’t worry, though. We have a recommendation for you.
Get the rare steak at the top of the first side (it’s #11, I think). It’s rice noodles with thinly sliced beef that is added rare and cooked in the broth. This meat is very lean and very fresh and tasty. I love it.
Andrew also gets the rare steak, but he has an alternative suggestion on how to experience it. “I always ask to have the meat served rare and separately on a plate,” he says. “That way you can cook it yourself to your liking. My liking is sprinkled with salt and pepper, and then I roll it up with a bean sprout and a basil leaf, dunk it for about 5 seconds (just long enough to kill any weird lingering bacteria), and eat it very close to rare.”
If you’re looking for a little variety, you can also go with the Vermicelli dishes. These are like Pho without the soupy broth part. They include noodles and meat and other stuff mixed together in a bowl and topped with a chopped fried egg roll.
Pho Hoa also serves spring rolls that are very tasty and extremely fresh (2 come in an order for $1.99). They are the chilled kind, not the fried kind and contain shrimp and a mixture of herbs and vegetables. I really like them and Andrew agrees. “Pho Hoa makes the freshest spring rolls I have ever had. They have a great peanut sauce to dip them in,” he says.
Finally, if you’re looking for a dessert, Pho Hoa offers a very interesting option. Sesame balls ($1 per order) are a type of semi-sweet bean curd rolled up and encrusted with sesame seeds. I ike them because they are not really sweet, and I’m not a fan of super-sweet desserts, but Andrew disagrees. “They aren’t bad,” he says, “they just aren’t good. Definitely an acquired taste. They aren’t quite sweet enough for me, and they are extremely chewy.”
In conclusion, Pho is a great culinary tradition from an Asian culture with deep roots in Oklahoma City. I highly recommend that you get out and try some. It’s a dish that can be eaten any time of day (notice that Pho Hoa opens at 8:30am every day making Pho for breakfast an interesting option), and it’s something that’s healthy, hearty, affordable, and tasty every time. Give Pho Hoa, or any of our city’s Pho places a try soon.
And let us know what you think in the comments.
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April 1st, 2008 at 8:23 am
One more thing I need to mention. Pho Hoa is cash or check only. No cards accepted here.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:54 am
I’m sad to say I haven’t eaten here yet although I used to teach right down the street. But I just have to add the comment that every Vietnamese student I have ever asked has named this restaurant as their favorite.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Thanks for that note, Caryl. I hope you’ll get to try it soon!
I just went back for another fantastic lunch today and noticed that Pho Hoa has updated their menu and raised their prices a bit. They must have done this right around the time I posted this article.
Anyway, the new menu is actually a little easier to read with the different types of Pho clearly designated. The numbers are still the same and so I still recommend #11 at the top.
The small bowl now costs $5.25 instead of $4.85. Still well worth it in my opinion. I’m telling you, this is quickly becoming one of my favorite meals.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Armed with step-by-step guidance from the author himself, I partook of some “Pho phare” at lunch today. I was as impressed by the food (and value) as I was the Asian-style OU Sooner wall decoration! Overall, Pho Hoa offers a quick, inexpensive–and one would have to believe nutritious–meal that is every bit as good as advertised in this blog …
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Great suggestion, Tim!
Pho Hoa was tasty and inexpensive. I really can’t understand why there are 3 sizes for most meals – the small was huge. What a light, enjoyable meal. I’ll definitely be going back soon.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 pm
We like to try all of the different pho restaurants and this place was very good, although back when they changed the menu and the numbers, the chef accidentally gave my boyfriend pho with tripe (not his favorite food
.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
pho hoa got written up along with a few others by the frugal traveler in the nytimes last year:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/07/04/travel/04frugalweb-1.html
April 17th, 2008 at 12:22 am
My favorite sick food and one of my favorite little OKC secrets! I have tried most of the pho resaurants in the city and Pho Hoa is handsdown the best. You are right the secret is in the broth, it makes all the difference.
I can’t believe you didn’t mention the drinks and dessert-drinks… I think everyone should just go try those unless you have an obversion to strange textures in your mouth. Just try some
April 17th, 2008 at 6:52 am
J2O, thanks for mentioning the drinks and dessert-drinks. That is a great bonus to the menu at Pho Hoa. I’ve actually never tried the beverages here, but I’ve had similar smoothies, teas and such (with the tapioca balls and other add-ins) at Cafe Oasis, and I really like them. It’s nice that you can get them along with your Pho.
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
My husband and I eat here at least once a week – we love the soup and the low price is great on our wallets. I find it hard to tear myself away from the original soup, but Tuesday tried the seafood soup with shrimp, crab (imitation) and fish balls. It was pretty good but I am a loyal #11 lover. We have tried the smoothies – including the avocado with tapioca – too much sugar for me – my hubby loves them. I prefer the thai coffee that drips into a cup with a small amount of sweetened condensed milk and you pour it over ice when it finishes! Our vietnamese chef at Musashi recommended Pho Cuong as his favorite pho place, but we think Pho Hoa will be tough to beat?
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Oh yes – Pho Hoa was in the April 08 (or March?) episode of Southern Living along with our Asian Market, Cao Nguyen and the milk bottle building – Ma Bhi Bhan or something like that. They did a great little write up on all 3. I’ve tried the milk bottle building sandwich and thought it was pretty sparse and boring compared to what the write-up said.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Thanks for the insight, Katie. I’ve wanted to try the seafood but never pulled myself away from #11. A few others have recommend Pho Cuong to me as well, so I’ll have to give it a try sometime.
I hadn’t seen the Southern Living write-up, though I had see the one in the NY Times that Johnny shared. Thanks for all the feedback, you guys. Keep it coming!
June 4th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I tried Pho Hoa for the first time recently, and I much prefer Pho Cuong and Pho Thai Nguyen. Maybe I just ordered bad. I tried the seafood because I rarely eat red meat these days. The broth was great, but the seafood itself was not good. It had a very strong “fishy” smell and taste. The rice noodles were a little thicker than I like, it was served with pickled jalapeños instead of fresh, and no basil, mint or hoisin sauce. Maybe that’s just what comes with the seafood pho. But, the sesame balls were excellent and so were the dessert drinks.
For those of you who have not been to Pho Thai Nguyen, give it a try. It is next to Crawdaddy’z on Classen (Also good, by the way. Try the fried oysters and catfish.) I have Pho Thai Nguyen make my soup with tofu and extra veggies instead of meat, and it’s my favorite. For the meat lovers, the beef tenderloin is excellent. They have a very extensive menu, including some Chinese favorites like Kung Pao Chicken and several dessert drinks.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Maneki, that is odd about the condiments because every time I’ve been they’ve had fresh jalepenos, basil, mint and hoisin sauce on the table before we even ordered.
Anyway, thanks for the feedback on the seafood Pho. I’ve never had it, nor have I tried the other places you’ve mentioned but I’ve been getting a lot of recommendations for Pho Thai Nguyen and Pho Cuong so I’m going to have to try them soon.
Also, thanks for the info on Crawdaddy’z. The place always looks deserted when I go by so I’ve been hesitant to try it, but I have been hopeful for it because we need a good, down-and-dirty cajun place around here.
June 18th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Ok we now have tried both Pho Cuong and Pho Thai Nguyen. There is no comparison to us. Pho Hoa kicked their tails. The portion of noodles at Pho Thai Nguyen left my husband hungry. We were left with 3/4 bowl of broth and no noodles. the atmosphere was somewhat more updated and clean. We will have to remain loyal to Pho Hoa.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I was a regular Pho Hoa customer but after trying a few other places I found that Pho Hoa turned out to be not very good in comparison. The place is very noisy and often crowded, and not very clean.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Rick, what are the other places that you like better? I’d love to try them.
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 pm
I have to agree with Andrew about the broth. It is much better and “fuller” than any of the other places we have tried, and we have been to most of them. The spring rolls are great also. I haven’t yet had any bad experiences there.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Pho Hoa is great and I eat there quite a bit, but if you are in the South side, try Pho 89 off of 89th and Penn. The soup is excellent, and they have alot of great options other than pho. If I don’t get pho, I get the shrimp on a sugar cane in which make your own springrolls and my boyfriend always gets the rice vermicelli with grilled pork and eggrolls. Also, if you are in Norman and need a pho fix…please try Pho Sooner (Jenkins and Boyd). The restaurant is really quaint and clean. The pho is superb. They also have vegetarian pho, springrolls and eggrolls for the herbavores. Boomer Pho Sooner!
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Ugh, Pho Sooner is absolutely terrible. It’s overpriced, the broth seems too diluted, and they always put small portions of noodles and especially meat in the bowls. I’m Vietnamese and I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve eaten there (I live in Norman), usually by one of my non-Asian friends since it tastes good to them. However I’ve since schooled them on the right place to eat pho, Pho Hoa.
October 9th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I’m Vietnamese too and I love Pho Sooner. I usually get their vegetarian pho (something Pho Hoa does not offer), but I also like their beef pho. Yes, they have smaller portions of meat and noodles, but I get full off of their regular bowl. It maybe more expensive compared to Pho Hoa, but it saves me more on gas money to stay in town and sometimes it taste like Pho Hoa puts too much msg in their soup. Don’t get me wrong, I like Pho Hoa, extra msg and all, but not enough to make a special trip from Norman, when Pho Sooner offers great pho.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Can’t wait to try this place. I discovered Pho while living in Boulder, CO and have been longing for the spicy (not hot) and comforting flavor since my return to OKC in April. Hopefully I’ll be back with a review later this week!
November 21st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I frequent this place at least once a week and usually twice and I always order the same thing. A large P14 (lean steak and brisket) with an order of Spring Rolls. I have tried Pho Cuong which has a slightly creamier broth but not as good meat and “sloppy” spring rolls and Pho Thai Nguyen which just doesn’t have the flavor of Pho Hoa. Needless to say, those places are both still very good, but for me, Pho Hoa is the best Pho place I have been to in and out of Oklahoma City.
December 21st, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I really like Mr. Pho, it is the cleanest place I have been to- though the service can get a bit frusterating sometimes. More that one person commented on seeing roaches walking around Pho Hoa…
December 21st, 2008 at 10:32 pm
You know, roaches don’t really bother me. Honestly, that broth comes out just south of a boil. There is no bacteria known to man that would fall in that broth and survive to hurt you. A roach or two might even add a nice crunch.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Don’t get the blood soup!, trust me on this.
January 30th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I have been eating Vietnamese food for years now. All starting in Atlanta, Georgia at Bien-Thieuy. i was hooked on the spring rolls (fresh) for starters and for my main meal I received many rice papers and different kinds of sliced thin meats and veggies to make my own wraps. I miss this and wish Oklahoma can experience this sensation as I have. Pho-Hoa is the only restaurant that I have found and I have searched “High-Low” for authentic Vietnamese food. They are# 1 in my book. As for a recommendation I suggest the spicy soup it is a blood soup however I do not do blood. So try this, Order spicy soup with well done or rare flank and sliced ham which is also well done pork and clear noodles. You will be amazed by the flavor the broth has to offer. I usually order an extra large and finish it all the time. So if you are looking for a good suggestion just try the Spicy soup w/ well done flank, ham(pork) well done clear noodles extra large. They know me by heart and have my order down to a tee. God- Bless and happy eating
January 31st, 2009 at 11:09 am
I totally agree that Pho Hoa is fantastic, always hits the spot on a cold day; however, try Mr. Pho. It is just about one street from Pho Hoa, in the Super Cao Nguyen Center (bright orange palm trees)on NW 25th. They have just as good as Pho, but they take credit cards. Also, if you are with a group of friends that are not Pho lovers or in the mood for something else, they have a larger menu to pick from. Both are yummy and equally priced on the Pho.
February 19th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Pho Hoa is greasy, fatty pho loaded with msg. Their service is horrible! This is coming from a Vietnamese-American. I prefer Phobolous right on the border of Edmond/OKC. They are consistently good, clean, generous servings of meat, broth is perfection, and the atmosphere is modern and CLEAN. They also take credit cards. =)
Pho Thai Nguyen’s pho is disgusting. I would stick to their vermicelli bowls.
Mr. Pho used to be pretty good. They are not consistent though. 3 out of 10 bowls will be right on..the other 7 are below par. It’s hit or miss..and generally “miss.”
February 19th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Also, I forgot to mention, my white buddy at work says “Phobolous” is for the upper echelon community. LOL
February 19th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Pho Thai Nguyen’s verm bowls are awesome! Get the combo with the VN eggroll!
February 19th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I love me some vietnamese beef noodle soup. The broth is absolutely deeee-lish. You all need to go to my fav place: Mister Pho
February 20th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Tygreek, how do you know Pho Hua is full of msg? Just curious. I actually find msg do be delicious! I wish it hadn’t gotten such a bad rap. Anyhow, all my Vietnamese friends say go to Pho Hua and never try anything else. Interesting.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:43 am
I can’t believe I waited so long to try Pho!! It’s wonderful. I remembered the name of the dish but not which restaurant you recommended, and the one I visited is Pho Ca Dao (across tshe street from the big milk bottle). I got the sliced beef version, and the condiments included limes, Thai basil, jalapenos (I didn’t try that), and bean sprouts. I ordered the medium size (about $5.50) and it was a great meal. I added some of the hot sauce but not the hoisin (I tend not to like sweet in a main dish). I’ll definitely go again. It sure cleared my sinuses!
March 26th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Andrew-
Ask any Vietnamese and they will tell you it’s full of MSG. Most places use it..ok like 99% of places…but the amount at Pho Hoa is quite disturbing. And the only reasons your vietnamese friends recommend that place is because it’s always been the “go to place” way back in the day…but ppl haven’t caught on that there’s better out there. And most FOBs (fresh off the boat) eat there because it makes them feel like home….I really couldn’t tell ya. But just trust me on this, try PHOBOLOUS and then let me know what you think.
May 15th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I randomly stopped at Pho Hoa one day during my lunch break. I had no idea what to order, and the owner was so sweet. He explained what everything was and walked me through what I liked, and what I should order. The soup was incredible! It was flavorful and light and filling…my stomach just growled thinking about it! I added a lot of hot sauce and jalepenos to mine, but I wasn’t sure about the giant leaves and bean sprouts they served on a plate.
July 8th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I love Pho Cao Dao..the broth is wonderfully rich and flavorful.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
My vote goes to the CaDo (Cao Dao.. Ca Dao?? can’t remember) across Classen west from the Milk Bottle in the same strip mall as the jewelry store north of NW23rd. I always break a healthy sweat when I eat there. I’m a fan of what I call the “kitchen sink” when I eat pho. Whatever cow parts are lying about, just throw ‘em in there. Yep. Pho Hoa is good but not my favorite. Didn’t like Mr. Pho. Kinda bland. Tried the one south across NW30th from the tag agency on the east side of Classen once. I remember it being OK.
My father-in-law is a huge Pho fan and I’d say Pho Hoa is his favorite. He claims it’s most like what he got in Vietnam. Still I’d choose CaDo any time.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:20 am
If you are in the Tulsa area and cant make the drive to OKC, but still crave the Pho experience, try out Viet Huong on 21st and Memorial. The atmosphere is real basic Vietnamese, but the Pho and other Vietnamese dishes are out of this world. My wife and close friends try to eat there at least once or twice a week. Start the meal off right with a traditional or fried spring roll, and finish it up with a glass of fresh made iced coffee for a quick pick me up after a long day. If you decide to skip the Pho, a mistake if you ask me, there are plenty of other great Vietnamese and Chinese style dishes. Everything from sweet and sour chicken to leg of duck based dishes. Not only is the food great, but the intimate surroundings and family run service is outstanding. Spice up your Pho however you like it from plain to nuclear reactor HOT. You wont regret giving this place a try. Truly a hidden Tulsa gem.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Best place to get pho in OKC, hands down. I’ve been visiting this location for years and I’ve never been disappointed with taste, price, or service.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
LOVE pho hoa! i like any pho i believe, but it hink this is the best. the help knows me and just recites it to me rather than asking for it! #8 small, 2$ crackers, and order of spring rolls. yummy
December 9th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
P5 @ Pho Hoa is my favorite; however, I’m disappointed to say my uncle had an unpleasant experience there & they wouldn’t give him a new bowl.
Until I, myself, experience something horrifying – I suppose I’ll still go there. LOL.
January 13th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
I never really understood the deal with Pho Hoa. It’s fine, but nothing to write home about. Maybe the couple of times I’ve eaten there they have been off. I still like Cao Dao the best. Mr. Pho was good for a while, but I just stopped going seemed pricier than others. Thai Nguyen is also pretty good. But Pho Cao Dao is still repeatedly my favorite, been going for years, and never had a bad bowl.
February 11th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
i have tried most pho places in the OKC are. Used to live right off Classen and would eat it at least once a week evn goe my son’ hooked on it, he wouls always be the youngest “white kid eausing chop sticks in the place, I actually profer pho Cuong, theie broth always has alor of flavor, alot of other place are more blandI also love the spring rolls and vietamese coffe, that stuff is like liquid crackI prefer it over starbucks anytime and is cheaper but you have to be patiet to wait for it to brew
February 15th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
after making my last post I got in the mood for some pho, I live on the southside now which limits the number of pho places, but there is still at least one nearby, Pho 89, I had been therer befoer and though not bad wasn’t as good as some of the other aforementioned places, on the bland side, this time though, the broth was much more flavorful. don’t know if just because later in the day and it had simmered onger or if there was a different cook. the place is fairly new and nice atmosphere. I also had the iced coffee with the condensed milk, the waitstaff were all very friendly if maybe not perfect, they didn’t bring my basil/beansprouts out until I was almost half thru with the soup. since i’ve had mixed results from here I guess I will have to try it some more to see if the first time or second is more the norm, they have quite a variety of items on the menu for a vietnamese place and will have to try some of that too. as with most pho places price and serving size were very good no real complaints except for the plate of basil/beansprouts being forgotten
February 20th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Best Pho restaurant in town.
May 18th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
My family is Vietnamese and we all agree that this place has the best pho!
March 29th, 2011 at 11:47 am
To kinda change the subject a little, I tried their rice dishes and would suggest sticking with the pho.
May 3rd, 2011 at 9:22 pm
@Derek – Be glad you were served at all at Pho 89. Last time I was there I was seated and then forgotten. After sitting there for about 20 minutes I walked a couple of doors down to Panang and was greeted, seated, and eating in under 5 minutes. It wasn’t pho but it was tasty.
Anyway, the moral of this story is…. I’ll never set foot in Pho 89 again.
June 11th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
I ventured out from my usual Pho spot today and tried Pho Lien Hoa. The interior is nice. I think I’ll stick to my regular spot Pho Ca Dao .
It was so noisy my guest and I had a hard time hearing each other. I’m not sure if it’s the acoustics in the place or why it was that way
The Pho was fine but it is less greasy at PCD. Also the spring rolls were flavorless and blah. Our service was horrible. I’m glad I didn’t add as much Sriracha as I normally do or I would have been in trouble because my glass wasn”t refilled until after were we finished. We were never checked on thoughout our meal except for the fried banana lady. See below.
However, a woman did come buy with fried bananas and asked if I wanted one. I said yes, she didn’t tell me there was a charge until she put it on my plate. I didn’t even try it,. It was grease soaked and cold. Not crispy like one would expect. They do not take plastic either which is a bummer.
Pho Ca Dao make be lacking interior design but their food is far superior. Elegantly spiced broth, hardly any grease floating on the top and perfect.
The spring rolls and peanut sauce are the best I’ve found. Best of all they do not include pork in them, which is my preference.
Please tell us what you think.