Nam Phuong

1100 Washington Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 468-0410
Website

Ok, I am sorry to rain on everyone's parade, but I am just not that impressed with this place or Pho in general. I have had it in the past and didn't really care for it, but I decided to go back to Nam Phuong last weekend. The summer roll was great, and I loved the peanut sauce. But my mission was to love Pho, and I just couldn't.


I thought the flank steak would be a good bet. It came out looking like tripe, in huge sheets. It was pale, gray and rubbery. Meh. The broth was okay, but the star anise is so prevalent, that I found it sort of off-putting. I could replicate the dish by adding some noodles and sprouts to beef broth that is too heavily seasoned with Chinese five spice, however I guess I would have to boil the meat to get it to that consistency. I know ALOT of people who love Pho, and Nam Phuong, but I have to say, give me the hand-drawn noodle house ANY time over Pho. I am quite an adventurous eater, but I am not going to be impressed with food simply because it is cheap and served in large portions.


Here is a (slightly fuzzy) picture of the "flank steak". I think you can make out the strange color and texture.

The back-up order, the meatballs were another story altogether. Meatballs are a pretty easy food to make. These things were absolutely disgusting. I hate to say it, but they were. To get an accurate picture of what these little tragedies were like, soak some Nerf balls in beef broth and serve. Seriously. I had one bite and spit it out.


Sorry Nam Phuong, but I don't think we will be crossing paths in the near future, if I have anything to say about it.