The Pho 2 in Manhattan, New York City was an amazing culinary experience along with being super affordable ($16 for the pho)! The pho was in a huge bowl and felt endless too!
The Pho 2 Review
I had ordered the vegetable pho (the one with the baby corn and tofu) and it was delicious as it was terrifically delicate! The broccoli wasn’t tough like they sometimes cook it and the tofu had absorbed all the delicious juicy broth and leaked all the liquid as you bit into it. The tofu was pretty much a sensation bomb as the texture was really satisfying and the flavors that came out coated the entirety of your mouth.
A large amount of the vegetables in the pho had already absorbed the broth so their natural flavors were extremely enhanced. The broth was extraordinarily light despite being umami and flavor-rich while it had a great depth to it. It was almost irresistible to drink it straight from the bowl! The bowl is also HUGE which means that you might not be able to finish it- but this just simply means its value for money!
The noodles were cooked just right and were not hard or too soft and really took in that pho flavor – you taste stronger notes of the parsley that they used in the pho as well as you got deeper into the dish. To elevate the dish even more- they supply hot chili oil at the table so you can add some into your pho and it will really enrichen the flavors as spiciness creates a taste that activates the deepness of the dish.
I had the Vietnamese Iced Coffee to drink and it was strong which was to my liking; the coffee was rich and they didn’t overpower it with too much sugar allowing you to enjoy the slight bitterness from the coffee. It is a really great drink to choose on a really hot day and complimented the pho immensely.
Conclusion
I would like to advise anyone following a diet or lifestyle coming to this place to know that the vegetable pho is actually not plant-based as it contains a meat-based broth. I didn’t check the menu properly while I was there but I believe there were a few plant-based options.
Overall, I would thoroughly recommend going to the Pho 2 if you’re looking for a quick place to go eat after visiting Central Park. I’d rate it a 5/5 for both affordability and the flavors you get to enjoy!