Pho Bowl is a hidden gem of a restaurant in the Kingstowne area’s Landsdowne Centre. This is a Vietnamese restaurant specializing in pho (the traditional beef noodle soup) and grilled meats. We generally order carryout for dinner (my favorites include the grilled beef or shrimp with rice vermicelli and summer rolls), but last weekend we decided to pop in for a late lunch. It was a cold day, and just perfect for a bowl of pho. This soup typically features rice noodles in a spiced broth with some type of meat added in. We had the pho soup with meatballs and thin slices of steak. Other choices include brisket, flank, tripe or chicken. It is served with a garnish plate of bean sprouts, limes, basil and peppers so you can make it your own; if you like it spicy, there is hot sauce on the table just for you! I love this soup—it feels like its filled with goodness and can ward off a cold. The broth is the star of the show; truly delicious and filled with exotic tastes—your taste buds won’t know what hit them! Before digging into the soup, we each had a tasty summer roll (rice paper wrappers filled with shrimp, rice vermicelli, bean sprouts and more) served with a tasty peanut sauce. If you are in the area, whether at home or on your lunch break from Fort Belvoir, be sure to stop in Pho Bowl for a great meal.
Susan Hall
