“This is our legacy: bringing the best food to the community at a reasonable price,” said Minh Tu, owner of the newly opened Dope Pho.
Dope Pho, which opened in January, offers a menu that is a celebration of Vietnamese family recipes, passed down to Tu over the years. Eager to try their most popular dish, the Bone-In Short Rib Noodle Soup, I took a seat and kicked off my meal with six chicken potstickers. Juicy on the inside and perfectly crispy on the outside, the dumplings set the tone for what was to come.
Then, the Instagram-worthy bowl arrived: two slabs of bone-in rib meat, rice noodles, and a medley of fresh garnishes floating in a simmering, golden-brown broth. The ribs were the undeniable statement piece, and I almost felt guilty disrupting the display as I grabbed the first chunk by the jutting bone to take a bite. The meat was tender, having soaked up the sweet-savory stock it was bathing in.
As a pho amateur, I found myself struggling to master the art of combining all the components—noodles, meat, herbs and broth—into one seamless bite. My first attempt with the ladle was effective for spooning up the liquid, but useless for lifting the slippery noodles, which kept falling back into the bowl with each try. Next, I grabbed the wooden chopsticks, managing to pull up some noodles and meat, but I still needed to find a way to scoop up that satisfying serving of soup.
Eventually, I found my rhythm: chopsticks in my dominant hand to grab the noodles and tender meat, while the ladle in my other hand collected the savory broth. This technique allowed me to savor all the flavors and textures at once—the silkiness of the noodles, the juiciness of the ribs, the crunch of fresh onions and herbs, and the comforting warmth of the broth. Finally, as a spice enthusiast, I reached for the Sriracha bottle on the table next to me, turning up the heat to take this bowl to the next level.
As a parting gesture, owner Tu offered me a complimentary “egg coffee” to-go. A traditional Vietnamese drink, it features a sweet egg yolk pudding poured atop a strong cup of iced coffee. As the pudding slowly drips into the coffee, it infuses the drink with a rich, decadent flavor. The drink reminded me of a mocha, and I asked her if there was any chocolate in it. She smiled and replied, “No. We have a secret ingredient.” We exchanged goodbyes, and she warmly encouraged me to try the egg rolls, should I be back in the future.
Rest assured, I’ll definitely be back.
Dope Pho, 43460 Grimmer Blvd, Fremont, 510.249.9902; dopepho.menu11.com. Open Mon-Fri, 11am-2:30pm, 4-9:30pm; Sat-Sun, 11am-9:30pm.
Thank you for the review of Dope Pho. Please tell me was it greasy or oily at all? Was the broth clear or cloudy? Like you, I am a pho amateur. (I like that moniker).
It’s a good life!
Kay