Twice a month, El Estoque goes to restaurants around the area and takes a chance by asking the waiter to personally choose our food for us. This week, we continued the alphabetical theme by going to Pho Hoa, located on South De Anza Boulevard.  

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Price Rating: 8/10

Meals

Summer Roll – $2.00

Rating- 7/10

The summer roll was fresh and flavorful, especially when paired with the complimentary peanut sauce. The noodles on the inside were cooked perfectly as they held their shape well and were not mushy. The shrimp was also tender and not rubbery in the slightest. The cilantro, lettuce and carrots were crunchy and fresh. The roll overall was bright and had a rich flavor thanks to the peanut sauce. The roll was a great way to begin the meal as it just whetted the appetite but was not too filling.

Steak Pho Rg – $9.40

Rating – 8/10

The warmth of the pho contrasted with the cold summer roll. The broth didn’t seem all that flavorful at first, but with the addition of optional garnishes, mainly sriracha and lime, the broth too became extremely bright and rich. The pho was also not at all greasy and light since the noodles were cooked perfectly. The, onions and scallions, in the pho were all fresh and had a good crunch that highlighted the tenderness of the  noodles. The steak itself was tender and added a nice heartiness to the broth.

Chicken Pho – $7.85

Rating –  6/10

The chicken pho was not as flavorful or tasty as the steak pho. The broth, while not terrible, wasn’t nearly as flavorful as the beef broth. The chicken pho was just not as rich as the steak broth, even with the help of the previously mentioned extra garnishes. The noodles and vegetables were still of the same quality as the steak pho. The chicken, however, was very tender and cooked perfectly.