I have become quite partial to Pho, the Vietnamese beef broth-with-beef-and-noodles and the restaurants that serve it. I had some Asian coworkers who taught me how to order and pay for the stuff.

Pho Hints:

1) Pho is ordered by number, usually the numbers denote combinations of types of meat including flank, brisket, rare steak, tendon, and "bible tripe." I can do without the tendon and tripe, but that's just me.

2) Order "Coffee" and you will get the delicious and invigorating Cafe Sua Da, filtered hot French coffee served in a cup with condensed milk, you mix it up and then you pour it over ice.

3) You get a separate plate of bean sprouts, mint leaves, and jalapeno peppers, flavor to taste.

4) You can also squirt hoisin or pepper sauce (found on your table) and mix to taste.

5) You walk up to the cashier to pay, they don't bring you a check.

I have found Pho restaurants usually in or near Vietnamese-expat enclaves, including Westminster, CA; Arlington, VA; Ontario, CA; and Reseda, CA. One thing I have learned is that many Pho restaurants (is there a short title? phoeries?) cater to native Vietnamese and the quality of service, if any, offered to Westerners can vary greatly. However, some are quite clean and inviting and some offer other dishes and other Asian specialties such as Clay Pot and/or Boba Tea.

What are your favorite and non-favorite Pho parlors and why?