SIGNATURE DISH: Viet Pho not typical south Georgia fare
Vietnamese restaurant offers home cooking, with a twist
By Gypsy Crow
ALBANY — There is always something special about walking into a family-owned restaurant. Customers sit comfortably in booths like they’re in their own homes and are welcomed warmly like old friends as soon they walk in the door.
At Viet Pho, located on Westover Boulevard, just south of Dawson Road, guests can experience the same comfort of home … but with a unique twist.
Viet Pho is Albany’s only Vietnamese restaurant and offers diners a flavor profile that is different from the usual go-to spot.
The restaurant opened in 2013 and was taken over by John and Julie Nguyen in 2015. Their son, Jason, can usually be found behind the counter, ready to help any curious customer find the right dish.
“After working in nail salons, my parents were looking for something different,” Jason said. “They wanted to give this a try.”
And their “try” was a success. Make a quick search of Viet Pho online, and you’ll find dozens of rave reviews for their authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
The restaurant uses the same recipes Julie Nguyen makes for her family in her own kitchen at home. For someone searching for true, authentic flavors, this is the place to go.
Mother and son went over the Viet Pho menu together to pick out their signature dish.
I started my meal with Julie Nguyen’s recommended appetizer. Fresh spring rolls wrapped in a thin sheet of rice paper were filled tightly with vegetables, rice noodles and plump juicy shrimp. Warning: don’t let the peanut sauce go to waste. Viet Pho’s peanut sauce is savory and has the perfect creamy consistency for dipping. The richness of the peanut sauce balances well with the bright flavor of the spring rolls.
Next came Jason’s choice. Could it be a restaurant called “Viet Pho” without pho? For those who have never tried it, pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup with different meat or vegetable fillings. At Viet Pho, it comes in three sizes with the diner’s choice of beef, chicken or shrimp in a rich beef bone broth.
I went with Jason’s choice of the pho with eye-round steak and meatballs. I asked for a small bowl, but it was anything but. If you’re looking for a place with hearty portions, this is the restaurant to try.
The aromatic herbs and spices flavoring the broth tasted strongly of cinnamon, star anise and ginger. The broth is healthy and cleansing. The bowl was filled to the brim with strips of thinly sliced steak, rice noodles and meatballs. The meatballs were my favorite part of the dish.
The restaurant provides customers who order the pho a plate of herbs, sprouts, peppers and a squeeze of lime to flavor their soup to the individual diner’s preferred taste. For those who need a little more of a kick, sriracha sauce is on the table.
While I tasted the food, one of Viet Pho’s regular customers came in. Staff treated him like he was family and joked about spoiling him too much. The Nguyens and their staff are the kind of people you want to come back to visit, again and again. The dishes are just icing on the cake.
Viet Pho is located at 717 N. Westover Blvd. Call (229) 888-0111.
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