Seattle’s Phở Bắc serves standout broth
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Seattle has no shortage of pho, but I have a pretty simple test for whether a bowl is worth coming back for: How good is the broth before I start messing with it?
Recently, I stopped by Phở Bắc Súp Shop in Little Saigon just after the Friday lunch rush.
The menu: This Vietnamese institution keeps things pretty tight, with pho at the center of the menu alongside a handful of appetizers — and a surprisingly ambitious cocktail list.
- I ordered a regular brisket pho and the gỏi cuốn, or fresh spring rolls, with peanut sauce.
The bite: The broth passed my test. It was savory and fragrant before I added a drop of hoisin or hot sauce — or even the usual sprouts, jalapeño, basil and lime.
- The brisket was tender, too. The gỏi cuốn and peanut sauce, though? Pretty mid, but that's ok. The soup was enough to make my day.
The vibe: The cocktails seemed to be the other star of the show. They were beautiful and some drinkers around me were audibly delighted by them.
Worth noting: Next door, sibling restaurant The Boat specializes in Vietnamese chicken and rice dishes.
