By Margo Greenman
Despite the fact that restaurant-goers often butcher its pronunciation, pho (pronounced “fuh”) is a wildly popular Vietnamese-style soup that has been adopted as a local meal time favorite around the South Sound. Whether it’s a hot summer day or chilly winter night, South Sound-area residents love filling up on generously portioned, steaming hot bowls of pho. Often leaving the eater feeling revitalized upon last slurp, many people even “self medicate” with a big bowl in order to help conquer the common cold, or overcome a nasty hangover. But, where can you find the best bowl? That depends on personal preference. With so many great options for pho around Tacoma and the surrounding South Sound, it’s impossible to name just one. To get you started on your search for the perfect bowl, here’s a few restaurants worth checking out.
Vien Dong
Located on South 38th Street in the Lincoln International District, Vien Dong has been in the business of pho – and other traditional Vietnamese cuisine – for more than 20 years. A family style restaurant, everything on the menu at Vien Dong is good, but you won’t soon forget the pho. Order a regular (it’s big), or a large (it’s huge) and enjoy loading your bowl up with fresh sliced jalapenos, basil and all your favorite sauces – sriracha, chili and plum sauce, along with a few unlabeled sauces worth experimenting with. Order spring rolls as an appetizer and enjoy sipping on tea while you wait for your soup. Pro tip: If you don’t feel like pho, try #20.
3801 S Yakima Ave
Tacoma, WA 98418
253-472-6668
Pho Tai
After the other restaurants close, Pho Tai stays open, providing the South Sound with a fresh alternative to late night fast food. Open until 4:00 a.m., Pho Tai offers a full menu of pho and Vietnamese favorites. And, if you’ve never tried pho before, Pho Tai makes ordering easy, outlining “beginners choices,” “just regulars,” “adventures choice,” and more than 10 side orders to add to your soup. With two South Sound locations in Lakewood and Fife, finding late night pho is simple.
Lakewood Location
9205 S Tacoma Way, Suite 112
Lakewood, WA 98499
253-583-9000
Fife Location
5306 Pacific Hwy East
Fife, WA 98424
253-896-1000
(Note: Fife location closes at midnight)
Than Brothers
With several locations across Seattle and the Eastside, South Sound-area residents are happy that they too get to enjoy the flavors of Than Brothers. Renowned for its veggie pho, there are also 16 meaty pho options for the carnivores at the table. Opt to dine at the Lakewood location, or head in to the newer restaurant located near the University of Washington’s Tacoma campus.
8515 S Tacoma Way
Lakewood, WA 98444
253-582-5120
1712 Pacific Ave
Tacoma, WA 98402
253-272-2249
LeLe Thai Vietnamese Cuisine
LeLe’s has been a favorite Tacoma destination for pho and other Vietnamese and Thai dishes for years, and now they’re extending their quality cuisine to Gig Harbor-area residents too at their new Gig Harbor location. With two locations on either side of the Narrows Bridges, grabbing a bowl of gourmet style pho is easier than ever. Choose from one of several pho varieties, including chicken, meatball, beef and more. That is, unless the other menu items don’t catch your eye first.
Tacoma Location
1012 S Martin Luther King Jr Way
Tacoma, WA 98405
253-572-9491
Gig Harbor Location
4747 Point Fosdick Dr NW #200
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
253-514-6382
Pho Bac
Serving authentic Vietnamese pho since the mid 1980s, it comes as no surprise that Pho Bac has mastered their recipe. Offering a small menu of all your pho favorites, Pho Bac keeps things simple, serving a small selection of pho and a few appetizers. Visit this Hilltop neighborhood treasure and you’ll be impressed by the big punch of flavor Pho Bac packs into their modestly presented soup selection.
1115 S 11th St
Tacoma, WA 98405
253-272-7270
Pho King
What’s in a name? At Pho King apparently a lot. But, luckily this Hilltop pho restaurant backs up its bold name with satisfying servings of more than 10 types of pho. This Vietnamese restaurant has an authentic family-owned feel, and that authenticity comes through in their flavorful pho and other menu favorites like their rave-worthy Banh Mi.
1020 Martin Luther King Jr Way
Tacoma, WA 98405
253-272-6287
