PHO !

PHÔ PHÔ is Belgium’s first Phô Bar – Phô (pronounced "fa" "far" or "fuh" depending on where you are) being the national dish of Vietnam, a big bowl of tasty clear broth containing rice noodles, beef or chicken, herbs and vegetables.  It is cheap as chips – in Vietnam, anyway – and very filling.  The Vietnamese eat it at any time of day or night and it is served in tiny restaurants or on the street, with a spoon for the broth and chopsticks for the food.  It was voted one of the world's 50 most delicious foods by CNN Travel website.

Phô Phô opened their first Phô bar on Rue de la Paix at St Boniface, followed by a second on Boulevard du Jardin Botanique, at Rogier.  This is some kind of justice for Antwerp having the only branch of Wagamama in Belgium.

“Phô Phô” bars are modern, stylish and designed for those on the move.  You order and pay at the counter, and choose a seat at a table or one of the high counters.  Your food is brought to you on a tray, and when you’ve finished you stash it in one of those racks like they have in cafeterias.  It’s not fine dining, but it’s not supposed to be.   While you eat you can watch video clips about Vietnam.  During my lunch I was transfixed by “Anh Do does Vietnam” with the sound turned down, which was just as well, as Anh Do has a broad Australian accent.   I look forward to watching Apocalypse Now (The Director’s Cut) on my next visit.

Ha Long Bay, near Hanoi

A medium bowl of Phô – chicken, beef or vegetarian – costs 7 euros, and a large bowl 11 euros.  For a normal appetite a medium bowl is ample.  You can take the Phô + dessert + drink combo for 10 euros or Starter + Phô + drink for 12 euros.  The waitress will bring you spicy sauce if you want it, and all Pho are served with a little side plate containing raw bean sprouts, chervil, a quarter of a lime and a sliver of hot chilli.  The broth is clear but incredibly tasty, having simmered for hours, and contains no fat so is ideal for those on a diet.

If you don’t fancy Phô, you can have Saigon soup, or tasty starters such as cold spring rolls, hot nems (fried spring rolls) or dim sum for a few euros.  Desserts are simple and there are only about four to choose from.   A number of Vietnamese people were eating there when I went, which was encouraging.   7 euros is probably a bit steep for what it is – in certain parts of Paris you can eat Phô for 5 euros or less, and in Saigon you'll pay about 40 pence!  – but you're paying a small premium for novelty in Belgium.    A healthy, tasty and filling lunch for the cost of a lunch voucher.  

If you are on an Atkins diet, eat Phô every day, it's got no fat, loads of protein and will fill you up.  The bad news is, loads of salt, but you can't have it all ways.

Phô Phô isn't the only place that offers Phô, but it is the only restaurant that only does soup as a street food concept.  You can even get it delivered if you sign up to Take Eat Easy delivery service.There are a number of Vietnamese and Viet-Thai restaurants in Brussels where Phô is often a staple on the lunchtime menu but a more solid and sophisticated menu is also available.  

PHÔ PHÔ

Boulevard du Jardin Botanique 6 (Rogier, St Josse)

Rue de la Paix 27 (St Boniface/Matonge, Ixelles)

KIM VIET THAI
Rue des Malines
(near Rogier)
only open lunchtimes Monday to Friday, but best Phô in Brussels 

HONG HOA
Rue du Pont de la Carpe  (St Géry) 
Tel:  02 502 87 14
 
VIETNAM EXPRESS
rue de la Paix 14, Ixelles
Tel: 02 511 19 23

LA BAIE D'HALONG
Rue Stévin 180, Schuman area
Tel:  02 734 54 38

MELI MELY
Chaussée de Louvain 523 (Meiser)
Schaerbeek
Tel:  02 726 21 31

LE VIETNAM
Rue des Eperonniers 49 (near Grand'Place)
Tel:  02 512 31 68 

POUSSIERES D'ETOILES
Chaussee de Boondael 437 (ULB)
Tel:  640 71 58

L'ORCHIDEE BLANC

Chaussee de Boondael 436 (ULB)

Tel:  647 56 21

AUX QUATRE SAISONS

Rue Melsens 18 (Ste Catherine)

Tel:  512 35 60

INDOCHINE

Rue Lesbroussart 58 (Flagey/Louise)

Tel:  649 96 15

LITTLE ASIA

Rue Sainte Catherine 8b

Tel:  02 502 88 36

With Phô at 12 or 15 euros I'd go for a more sophisticated dish, this is a high end restaurant with the advantage of having a renowned lady chef, Quyen, author of two best-selling cookbooks, who gives lessons in Vietnamese cuisine.  

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And just to turn the tables, so to speak, if you find yourself in Hanoi with an insatiable longing for carbonnades flamandes and a Duvel, try this:

LE PETIT BRUXELLES

1 Au Trieu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi 

Tel:  04-39381769