Restaurant Review: Pho Hong

Pho Hong Restaurant

For my review, I decided to to analyze the most popular Pho and Vietnamese joint in the Burlington area. 

Albeit there is not much competition for pho and I would not label it the best Asian restaurant, in respect to Burlington, Pho Hong has hands down the best big bowl of Vietnamese soup. There are several other Vietnamese places such as M-Saigon, Pho Pasteur and Dang Vietnamese but in my experience, Pho Hong's soup is a better quality for cheaper.

So the first question in reviewing a Restaurant is what criteria are they being based off. When looking at a Pho restaurant there are three primary aspects that need to be taken into account; taste, authenticity and price. Then there are many other lesser judgements that should also be raised but are not imperative, these include service, ambiance, location among others.

 The Taste of Pho Hong is what really stands out at first. Large servings of steaming, rich broth that are seasoned extremely well overtime with a wealth of ingredients inside, it is easy to see that they use the authentic method of simmering large cauldrons of broth then adding the noodles right before serving. The pho is also complimented with several sauces as well as the usual limes, basil, and sprouts so that you can manipulate the flavor to your choosing. The Pho's taste speaks for itself with the authenticity of a recipe but I cannot speak for the rest of the menu. There were several other things I saw on the Pho Menu that I would not expect to see under Vietnamese cuisine which made me doubt how true the recipes were besides Pho. Moving on, the price of Pho was just about what I'd expect it to be, gloriously cheap. A large bowl is just over six dollars and will make you feel nauseatingly full for the rest of the day, for better or worse. Besides, Pho everything seemed very reasonable but then again the other dishes did not seem to at the same level as their Pho. The ambiance to the restaurant is very low key and friendly so it's perfect for a relaxed date or college friends but not the best place to bring a first date or your grandparents. The location is a bit out of the way but easily accessible by car or city bus and in my opinion every bit worth it. 

Overall, I would review Pho Hong as an 8.6 out of ten. Since as a primarily a Pho restaurant if really delivers the goods but there are a couple lacking characteristics such as menu diversity and punctual service. Although the place may seem inauthentic compared to China town's bustling restaurant's, its bowl of Pho could be served in Hanoi without a second thought.

So if your looking for a good bowl of Pho in Burlington, look no further then Pho Hong. It may not boast the most complete menu or an awe-inspiring authentic ambiance but it will deliver you a deliciously created bowl of soup. If you are a fan of Pho or cheap vietnamese food this is a must visit in your future.