If you’re looking for a more exotic lunch in the Capital Boulevard area, why not give Pho Far East a try? For about $10, you can go in a lot of different ways, ranging from soup, rice plate or a noodle bowl. If you’re unfamiliar with Vietnamese food, ignore all the jokes about cats and such, Vietnamese food is similar to Chinese cuisine with a bit of a French twist. And the cuisine seems a bit lighter and spicier than Chinese food which I enjoy. Pho Far East is a very typical Vietnamese restaurant that provides a very authentic experience but you’ll usually find a mixed crowd eating there. Really similar to what I might find in San Francisco or Boston. The place is not much to look at and service is perfunctory but it’s all about the delicious eats here!

Inside the decor at Pho Far East is pretty basic: worn black, 80’s chairs, fish tank in back, the usual Asian eatery accoutrements. Start off with some cold summer rolls, probably one of my all-time fave appetizers. Summer rolls are made with a soft rice-paper wrapper and inside, there’s thin vermicelli noodles, mint and basil, lettuce, sliced shrimp and pork. They call summer rolls a salad in a roll and yeah, in the summer time they are really refreshing! Pho Far East serves their rolls with an excellent peanut sauce. I spoon some on top before each bite, yum. Or maybe go with a more traditional fried spring roll, for all its crunchy glory…

When it gets cold and rainy, Vietnamese pho (pronounced “fuh”) is one of my favorite comfort foods. And Pho Far East might have the best pho in the area. We’re talking about a large bowl of beef broth spiced with cardamon, anise and cinnamon. With vermicelli noodles at the bottom and thin slices of onion, beef, cilantro and scallions floating on top, you’ve got a meal right there! Take a sip of the broth to taste it on it’s own, stir up the bowl to loosen up the noodles and you’re ready to dig in. Now Anthony Bourdain may be a BIT over the top but check out the video below to see his reaction to a great bowl of pho in Vietnam.

Pho Far East also provides a large and fresh plate of pho condiments to bling out and customize your soup: bean sprouts, lime, basil, and jalapenos for some kick. I always make sure to taste the soup on its own just to make sure it’s up to snuff and then start adding in the condiments. Some fresh lime juice, crushed peppers and basil along with some crispy sprouts. Others like to add some sriracha sauce or hoisin for extra flava, but I keep it simple. Pho can be done with all sorts of more interesting cuts of meat (tripe, tendon, meatball) but for beginners, stick with the flank steak and brisket. No matter what goes in it, it’s gonna be delicious! And while pho is traditionally always beef soup, there are chicken versions out there for something different.

Another great choice for lunch is a rice plate (com in Vietnamese). My favorite is the grilled pork chops at Pho Far East. Again, there are a bunch of slightly different combinations on the menu so be careful! The pork is marinated and grilled for some sweet carmelization. Scallions on top, jasmine rice on the side along with a fried egg is perfect! Typically I put some fish sauce (nuoc mam) on top and make sure you get a taste of everything on the plate in each forkful! A little grilled pork, some egg and rice, yum… Or you can do this grilled pork in a noodle bowl (bun in Vietnamese) which is like having a Cobb salad. Vermicelli noodles with sliced cucumbers and carrots, topped with the same tasty grilled pork. A slightly different dish but equally good. Most of the rice plates and noodle bowls will come with the same protein options: grilled pork, chicken, beef, shrimp, etc.

At Pho Far East, the menu is quite extensive and it’ll take some exploring to really get into all their great dishes. But from what I’ve seen, they do it all pretty well. Vietnamese cuisine runs the gamut of soups, sandwiches (banh mi) to rice plates and hot pots. And it’s all spicy with a lot of flavor! So don’t let Pho Far East’s bland, strip plaza location fool ya (they don’t even have a website). And they’ve even got bubble tea if you’d like to finish things off with something sweet. I guarantee you, when you’re eating here you’ll be full of bon appetit…

Pho Far East

4011 Capital Blvd # 133

Raleigh, NC 27604

919.876.8621

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I have to confess that outside of the food Holy Trinity of Italian-Chinese-Mexican, I’d have to say Vietnamese is my next, most favoritest food type.  With the mix of Asian and French flavors, the cuisine is very similar to Chinese but tweaked a bit with some slightly different flavor profiles and spices.  And it can be done in so many different ways: on bread (banh mi), on rice (com) and on noodles (bun).  So when I heard that Pho Vietnam was opening up in the old Hot Point Cafe space on Buck Jones, I was pretty excited since that area is within my work-lunch range.  After stalking it for a month or so, I finally see online that it’s open and the reviews are coming in.   Zero will-power here, I had to stop in today for an inaugural lunch!

The space here looks a lot different then what I remember from Hot Point outside of the patio area outside.  Inside there’s more light, more white and and odd ordering set up.  By the kitchen area there’s a cash register where you put in your order. No counter, just tell the man up front what you’d like!  The menu here is sorta small for Vietnamese, about five pho’s, a handful of rice and bun dishes and some house specials.  I ask the gentleman up front if they’ve ever had a restaurant before and he shakes his head no, so we’re talking about restaurant newbies.  It looks like they’ve still got more work to do on the space but we are still here to eat!  My friend orders up the grilled pork and egg roll bun so I decide to go different and do the beef pho (assorted cuts) and order a banh mi, side-snack.  Don’t judge, I’m taking it home for dinner later!  Or so I thought…

Pho Vietnam is the real VN deal, they’ve got holders at each table with sriracha, soup spoons and wooden chopsticks.  But don’t fret if you’re not an expert with sticks, there are forks in the back if you can’t deal with those bad-boys.  The place already is sorta busy with Vietnamese folks so I’m hopeful.  They bring out a smallish plate of condiments (bean sprouts, jalapeno, basil and lime).  A bit less than what I’d expect at my other VN favorites.  My smallish bowl of pho comes in a red deep bowl and is flecked with a bit of oil and quite clear.  Thin slices of beef are cooking in the broth, I squeeze some lime in, tear some basil leaves up and drop in some crunchy sprouts, yum!  The noodles for this pho is a bit thicker and substantial, the broth here is decent but a bit under-spiced although I’m sure with some additions it’ll be fine.  But overall I found this pho to be an acceptable bowl, but not particularly flavorful or inexpensive.   The summer rolls I ordered to start were decent but the peanut sauce on the side was darker (hoisin) than usual and stronger than I like.

So I get back to the office and my overall thought is that I liked Pho Vietnam.  It’s a decent VN pho shop but definitely a cut below Pho Far East and a bit more expensive.  But you know what?  I’m still glad to have it in the hood and within my lunching range cause I’ll be back. Sometimes you’re just in the pho-mood and this place will take care of your craving.  And the banh mi?  Well, I tore into that back at the office (yeah, I’m a pig) and it was solid.  Needed a bit more meat and spread but fine for the $4 I paid.  So here’s to Pho Vietnam bringing some more authentic Asian eats to W. Raleigh/Cary.  While it could be better, it’s certainly good enough..

Pho Vietnam

1284 Buck Jones Road

Raleigh, NC 27606

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