Pho 2000
198 Adams St, Dorchester, MA, 02122
Pho 2000 Menu
-
Appetizer
-
Entrees - Vietnamese Salads
-
Entrees - Noodle Soups(pho Hay Mi)
-
Vermicelli(bun)
-
Seafood
Healthy Meal suggestions for Pho 2000
-
Appetizer
-
Entrees - Vietnamese Salads
-
Entrees - Noodle Soups(pho Hay Mi)
-
Vermicelli(bun)
-
Seafood
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
198 Adams St
Dorchester, MA, 02122 - Phone (617) 436-1908
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Sara S.
Pho 2000 has a large menu of Vietnamese food- looks like the pan friend Catfish and Seabass are the most popular things to order, as well as the 7 Course Beef. We were the only ones who got Pho. There are no vegetable options available, so we decided on seafood pho; shrimp, imitation crab, squid, and fish cake. There were no vegetables in the pho, unfortunately; however, the broth itself was super flavorful and delicious. The seafood was very good was a really nice choice. Surprisingly, the imitation crab was really tasty. It wasn't like the sushi imitation crab- it really looked and tasted like crab claws. Impressed! The yellow noodles were kind of ramen-y. The atmosphere is very casual. There were people behind us who brought their own 6-pack of beer (and consequently dropped a glass bottle, which shattered behind us), so if you want to bring your own "cold tea", go for it. Service was rude and short in the beginning, but she warmed up after a while. Definitely one of the more flavorful broths I've had in a while. Their other food looks great, and I will be back to try the fish. It looked SO good!
(4)Norina N.
everything is mediocre here. not much to write about. Clean and cozy atmosphere. food is so so, which I, myself could make at home. The staff is alright. No attempt to come back here any time soon.
(3)H T.
My big amigo will tell you that the pho was very good. But eating at this place is like eating at your evil Asian mother-in-law's house. The reasons: * No smiles, hellos, goodbyes, or thank yous. Poor poor service. Not even "can I take your order?" or "do you need anything else?" * Although we sat in a corner of the restaurant, and it feels like a special noodle alcove, but the waitress looked too lazy to be walking that far over to us. * One of the owners, the woman in the front house, was a stern lady. I waved to her for some napkins and limes. She was silent. Glad we got her daughter. I went up to pay the bill, she was silent. I paid the bill in silence. Then returned it to her, she was [still] silent. * I tried to behave and eat my noodles, drinking my durian shake.... while my guy blew kisses to me from across the table. They looked. Hehehe Muahh! * And my tofu vermicelli? There wasn't ONE vegetarian noodle dish on the menu, only stir fries with white rice. (-YAWN- HEY! I eat that everyday, k?) So I asked them to replace the meats and egg rolls with tofu. It was nothing special, in fact I'd say it's below average. The herbs weren't up to par, nor was the sauce. Oh wait, there was none. They don't make a vegetarian sauce- soy sauce, boiling water, sugar, limes, chili. How hard is that? I made my own with the condiments on the table. * Note: Pho 2000 is just the name of the X-Large size of Pho Dac Biet (Special Pho).
(3)Marly T.
I used to love this place...the last time I had their Pho it was pretty blah. One time we ordered Smoothies and it didn't come out the way I expected it. The Bo 7 Mon...I will give them ***** for that. The best! I will come here again just for that. Would love to try their fried fish one day.
(3)Sushi Y.
cute little place, full of vietnamese families, so this was promising. Our waitress knew little english- and ordering was a little sketchy-thank goodness we were familiar with what '7 course beef' looks and sounds like in vietnamese so we were covered there. I had the ground shrimp wrapped around sugar cane 'chao tom' and proceeded to wrap at leisure while my fellow diners scrambled to keep up with the cooking and the rice paper rolling. 1st course was suspect - raw beef cooked in lime juice and chilli. The locals we were with, reassured the man that if we doused it in the lime juice it would be OK (no issues later, so I guess we were good) 2nd course- beef cooked at the table in the broth- though it looked like just water to me. 3rd- beef cooked in butter- my gosh heart -attack waiting to happen, but judging by my friends, once in a while is alllll soooo goooood ..!.... 4th and 5th were the minced beef rolls- once wrapped in some kind of vegetable leaf and the other wrapped in onion (?) both were the favourite 'courses' and very flavourful... number 6- the vietnamese equivalent of the meatloaf with cracker- pretty good. lastly the beef rice porridge which was really the downer which didnt shine, judging by everyones faces, but i think it was because everyone was exhausted and relieved that the wrapping madness was over. My Chao Tom?- could have been more charred grilled to give it that extra summin summin, but still pretty good. i would try the fried catfish as we saw another table order it, and the fish looked like an arms length. full of stuff on top..... wow- thats a lot of wrapping... Would be interested to check out the other vietnamese places when I visit next time.
(3)Nate S.
The pho here was so-so. I think that's because they don't specialize in pho. The broth was sweet and almost cinnamon-y which i didn't like. I also asked specifically not to put tripe in my order and it came with finely shredded tripe I couldn't pick around. Gross.
(2)Mena L.
Best Vietnamese food in Boston!! I love their Pho and the Seven Beef Meal course, totally worth it! I've been here so many times with my family.
(5)Steve S.
Working in Dorchester, you will eventually eat in a Pho restaurant. Pho is basically a huge bowl of noodle soup for about $6 . You can have any of the standard proteins, chicken, beef or pork. I can finish maybe 70% of the soup on a good day if I am famished. For new Pho people, try the Hoisin(plum) sauce for the soup as it gives a nice flavor or the hot sauce for some punch. The vegatarian rolls are good with the abovementioned sauce. One last thing: Pho restaurants are not known for ambience, so do not be expecting carved Buddhas and a hot towel or lemon ice to cleanse your palate...Just expect to be fed alot of food for short money
(4)S.Y. T.
This is seriously the place my family goes to if we want to eat Vietnamese cuisine. Our favorite dish to order is the grilled/roasted fish (not sure what kind of fish is it). It is both crispy and meaty supplemented by vegetables, rice wrappers, and a shrimp like paste as a dip. I recalled trying the some squid dish and it was decent. My brother likes the Pho 2000. I might be a little biased because we eat here often but definitely try the fish unless...you don't like seafood. Well, too bad for you.
(5)Mark W.
The seven course beef dish.... so good!
(3)Cecilia L.
The first things I noticed upon entering this little place was the warm, bright decor and a table of three Vietnamese ladies near the door sharing the grilled catfish special. This fish was monstrous, crispy and covered in peanuts and I totally would have ordered it if there had been two more in our party. Menu is inexpensive and vegetarian friendly. The first time, bf and I got our usual standards, spring rolls, pho tai (rare beef) and grilled beef over rice. The food emerged extremely quickly. The grilled meat was a generous serving, the pho broth fine if a bit oily, the garnishes fresh. On a subsequent visit, a friend got the tofu with Chinese broccoli, light and refreshing yet satisfying in a delicious brown sauce. And the third time, we went for the seven courses of beef, a great deal at $15 each for two or $10 for three. This is a really intense eating experience in which you cook two kinds of raw sliced beef in a hot pot while the waitresses bring you yet more beef on skewers, as a meatball and in a rice porridge. On the side are greens, herbs, cucumbers, apples and rice paper, which you use to roll up the beef. Everything was delicious (except for the porridge -- hated this as a kid and still do) and keeping up with the food takes quite a lot of effort! We also had the lemongrass shrimp, huge tender shrimps in a wonderful sauce with onions, bell peppers and fat chunks of pineapple. Pho Hoa has better pho, but Pho 2000 wins my vote for best Vietnamese in Dorchester. Next time, the catfish.
(4)Tracey N.
I'm going with the 4 stars because I think I got more beef in my soup than Roni did. The broth is light and not greasy for the Pho. I'll definitely be back to try my fave, bun vermicelli, with some bubble tea. And that smelly vinegar-y old shoe sauce? I'm forever scarred now. It was on something in my meal the other night at Pho Hoa and I had a knee-jerk gag. Maybe because most non-Vietnamese people don't order the 7-course beef meal, but we didn't get any instruction on the hows and whats as we stumbled through it. I made the mistake of dunking a roll in that sauce and it did NOT agree with me. Our waitress disappeared and came back well after our butter was burnt, then it took her forever to return so we could get the check. Good thing it's inexpensive!
(4)Jim M.
After a rainy and dreary day, the Pho Ga uplifted my spirits. The service was super friendly and efficient. I was able to to go back to jury doody with a smile on my face. Less than a 5 min drive from the court house.
(4)Wesley D.
the chicken pho is just awesome it does not need nothing at all
(4)Wang E.
This is a nice place to eat with friends and family. I really like the Bò 7 món. It is GOOD! It kind of stinks that asking for more noodles/veggies now will charge extra. The catfish is good too! I wish the waitress was nicer. I dont know why she is so unfriendly. Also the lady, I'm not sure if she is the boss but there was a time I was eating there with my two sisters and she neglected us. She didnt even greet us or tell us to enjoy our meal, but an American lady came in, she GREETED HER and was SO SWEET to her. Seriously? Do you need to be prejudice? A customer is still a customer. I would give 1star because of service, but I come here often and really like their food so 4 stars.
(4)Al N.
After hearing so much about this place, I ordered takeout. I had to be passed to a second woman on the phone because the first one couldn't understand me when I said, "Number 15. Beef noodle soup." I had to repeat my order twice to the second woman. I always thought I spoke clearly. I guess not. I'm only mentioning this because even though the food was excellent, they f*cked up my order and didn't give me the #15 EVEN THOUGH I WAS CHARGED FOR IT. It was a long drive and my wife was alone at home with hungry screaming kids so going back was not an option. I was really, really pissed. Good cold spring rolls, excellent salad (with shrimp), very good noodle soups. Fresh ingredients, generous portions, but since I paid for something I didn't get, I'm going to have to say that the price was bad. I might go back, but next time, I'll know to check my order. EDIT: OK. I've given them a few more chances and I've bumped my review up a star. The rare steak is rare, the tripe is phenomenal, the food is always fresh. They've made more mistakes on orders, though, like only including the fixings for one meal or forgetting sauce for an appetizer.
(4)Roni E.
Here's a math problem for ya: Q: (5 Yelpers + 3 other tables)/2 servers = ? A: 2.5 - 3 hours meal * -1 star for extremely sllloooooow service * -1 star for not enough beef in my Beef Noodle Soup... The 7 Courses of Beef is definitely overrated. Once is certainly enough for me. It certainly was an eclectic group of food. Not to say that it wasn't good, it just wasn't for me. I'd say I enjoyed the first 3 meals and then it went down hill from there. Their Beef Noodle Pho was pretty good. But again, not enough beef, and the rare steak was not so rare when it made it to the table. With 3 slices of beef, I had a lot of noodles and soup, which were delicious. Not oily or loaded with a lot of MSG. The egg soda didn't taste like it normally should. Not sure if they may have used too much condensed milk or what, but I certainly suffered a tummy ache/indigestion of some sort in the middle of the courses. But, nothing that Rolaids can't take care of.
(3)Michael V.
MA pho places are either ok or below.... This place, however, has the best pho in MA! Oh yea they have a delicious summer roll which consists of veggies, apples, and fried spring roll skin. The only reason I'm not a regular is because it's hour and a half away.
(4)Becky B.
Dear god this place is great!!!! well the food that is. There is totally something to be said for fierce neighborhood competition..and seeing as how Dorchester houses the largest Vietnamese population in Boston...go figure...thats where youre going to find some damn good...ultra tasty..uber cheap Pho.... and the name...also good! pros: great pho great price...fun dive atmostphere. cons: horrendously unresponsive service...kinda outa the way.
(5)Pete C.
If I'm in the area, I usually go to Pho Hoa. But I had a chance to have dinner here when the group of friends I was with wanted to go here. This was the first time I've been back since my first visit when it first opened. I ordered the #14, which is their extra large with everything. I also added the beef meatballs. We also ordered the grilled catfish for the table to share. The soup was good. It was a bit heavy on the MSG, but I still liked it. It had all the usual meats, but now that I think about it, I don't remember having any tripe. Maybe it wasn't listed on the menu and I missed it. I also thought that there was a little less meat than at the other places in the area. The catfish was GI-NORMOUS. I'm usually not a fan of catfish, because I think it tastes like dirt. But this fish was good. The flesh was white, flaky and mild. You ate the fish by rolling the meat in rice paper with rice noodles and veggies...MYOSR, as in Make You Own Summer Rolls. I have to warn you, though, that the dipping sauce isn't for everyone. It's made from shrimp paste, so it can be fishy and a little stinky. It's an acquired taste for sure and I liked it, but I thought fish tasted great without any sauce at all. Overall I liked Pho 2000. Of the big three in the area, I'd rate Pho 2000 third behind Pho Hoa and Pho So 1. So while it wouldn't be my first choice, I'd come back again.
(4)Hong L.
The 7 course beef dish is excellent! Pair this with the platter of fried whole fish and you've got the makings of the best spring roll-making combo in Boston. Worth the trek out of Chinatown for quality Vietnamese.
(5)Huan z.
Free ice tea and friendly service. Noodle soup was decent and delicious. It's bit too hot have the soup since they don't have air condition on. I was carving for a cold Vietnamese Tiger beer. Since they don't have alcohol menu, I guess I have to get that from Pho Hoa few blocks away. It's interesting the waitress thought I was a Vietnamese and spoke to me in Vietnamese from beginning to end. I simply nodded and smiled.
(3)Ryan L.
Can't go wrong here. The pho is great (although the meat portions aren't as much as Pho So 1 down the street) and they have an extensive menu of items such as the 7 course beef special. I've also had this fried catfish dish you eat with rice paper which was pretty damn good. It's difficult to compare this place to pho so 1 because it's really a matter of personal preference at this point since both places offer great food.
(5)Alex T.
Pho 2K! I actually came here with friends when it first opened several years ago and remembered leaving with a good impression of the food. Having high expectations whenever I venture to this part of town for Vietnamese food, I have to say that my last visit was disappointing. The pho and spring roll I ordered were both very average. Nothing stands out. The soup seems to be loaded with MSG. The spring rolls were lacking in shrimp and pork. Also, none of the waiters speak a bit of english and service felt very cold and impersonal. Maybe I was just there on a bad day but given all the choices for V-food around Dorchester Ave. alone, I doubt I will be coming back.
(2)Eliza T.
OK, so the 5 stars has to be viewed in the context of this being a Vietnamese restaurant on the East Coast. If rated objectively, it would be 3.5-4 stars. That said, it was surprisingly good! I was in Boston for a conference. After Yelping, I decided to try Pho 2000 for Sunday brunch in order to introduce my BF to the 7 courses of beef. Unfortunatedly, we partied a little hard Saturday and the BF was profoundly hung over, and we know--and everyone else should learn--that Pho is the best hangover cure ever! So we ordered one bowl of Pho to share as well as the 7 courses of beef for two. Needless to say, that was waaaayyyy more food than we could have consumed. The Pho's broth was impressively fragrant, sweet, and nicely fatty--which might turn off those "health-conscious" people, but this really is the authentic Vietnamese way of serving it. (In CA Pho places offer the option of a small bowl of scallions poached in beef fat to be added to the broth for more authenticity) The thinly sliced beef was clearly fresh as it had a healthy pink color. We both agreed that the broth was very good--though not the best ever, I would venture to say that it rivaled many very good places in So Cal. So as my BF lovingly dove into his bowl, the 7 courses of beef started coming out. I think I was most impressed with the authentic variety fresh vegetables and herbs plate, and secondly with the fact that they served it with mam nem (unfiltered fish sauce--overwhelmingly pungent smell, but oh sooooo good when well prepared!) I believe we made it to the 4th course before my BF confessed that he couldn't eat another bite. Though good and especially surprising that it's available in Boston/Dorchester, the 7 courses of beef didn't particularly knock my socks off....though they did have all the right courses and good quality beef , there was just something missing/off in the flavoring (especially the bo la lot and bo lui), but still definitely very edible. We took the last 3 courses to go, and they did a very good job packaging everything, including all the veggies, sauce, vermicelli and ricepaper for wrapping. I have to say that though I normally don't like porridge, it was a good and comforting breakfast the following morning. So overall, I was very happy Yelpers helped us find this place and I was definitely satisfied with our experience. I live in New Haven now and wish there's a place like this close by. But I'm already telling my brother and mother in CA that I'm willing to make the 2hr drive for it if I get a big craving for real Vietnamese food! Yes, it is that authentic!
(5)Neo B.
Went there to get a different experience besides Anh Hong. We got 7 course beef dish. Huge disappointment. The portion are smaller, the place look empty and old. Not impressed much. The worst is when both my girlfriend and I got stomach upset afterward (we both washed our hands before eating). I talked to my friends afterward. Confirmed that the 7 course beef dish should be eaten at Anh Hong. No where else is better. If eating at Pho 2000, try the fried fish, that is.
(1)christopher p.
Best broth. Better than Pho Hoa on Dot ave. mmmmm. I went out on a limb and tried something besides Pho Tai the other night for dinner. I ordered the wonton soup and a tofu salad. The wonton soup was delicious, even with chicken instead of beef broth. The tofu salad was kind of like Vietnamese coleslaw with spicy vinegar dressing and fried tofu triangles. I wouldn't probably order it for an entree next time because it wasn't all that filing, but it would be great for a light lunch. If you know and love pho, you have to try this place. I love the lighting, it's like being in a Sanrio store, all pink and red and glowing!!
(4)Joshua K.
I've eaten here several times and had a few different things. I've been consistently impressed. Their bun is quite good, 7 course beef was excellent, even if they weren't particularly helpful as i wasn't quite sure what to do in the first two or three courses of the meal. Stir-fry noodles are excellent as are the different entrees with rice. I really like how they will give you hot or iced tea depending on the weather. The atmosphere is not quite up to the par that is set by a few other Vietnamese places in the area. I think that is the only knock against Pho 2000. I will continue to eat here.
(4)Zoe C.
Living nearby and blessed with a hearty selection of great Vietnamese restaurants, this is still my favorite. I use the simple but delicious pho itself as a measure for all these places and this one has the best pho.
(4)Alexandra W.
What the? What the? What the helllll? Is there crack in this food? The 7 course beef dinner is one of the best ones I've had in a long long time. This is coming from a person who is from Asian central in Los Angeles. Come here with friends! You'll have tons of fun playing with your food all night....using your hands to wrap the food in delicious rice paper. But beware, the fish sauce can leave your fingers reeking for days. Minus one star for their semi-mediocre Bahn Xeo.
(4)Orly M.
***3.5 stars*** I had a wonderful afternoon here, but that's because of the awesome company I was with. To be fair, the pho was really, really good -- I got a large chicken noodle and the broth was tasty, flavorful, and light. The chicken was also really yummy. Way better than my usual local joint, Le's in Harvard Sq. We got the 7 courses of beef, which we split between 5 people. It wasn't so much food per se, but it was too much beef for sure. Making spring rolls was fun and cooking the beef was fun. The third course was beef cooked in butter which was really sinful, I can feel the hardened section of my arteries. One course was beef wrapped in some kind of leaf which was gross. The meatball was kind of gross. The rice soup stuff which came last was REALLY gross. I kind of shudder thinking about it. But the GROSS AWARD goes to the nasty vinegary sauce we were given at the beginning of the meal with little bowls so we could each have our own. The smell was repulsive, but Tracee tried it and omg, she had to restrain herself from gagging. I felt like an awful person for encouraging her to try it, but also fortunate that I didnt have the cojones to try it myself. Gross gross gross gross gross. The thing is the meal left me feeling just....gross. Just based on pho, this place would still only get 4 stars because I can deal with the dirtiness, but the service was really awful. Soooooo sloooooow. I checked the big mirrors on our way out to make sure my hair hadn't turned grey.
(3)Rhea B.
Had a fab spicy sweet and sour soup with chicken. It's my favorite Vietnamese dish, and the Pho 2000 version was great! My first time there.
(4)Hungry W.
FOOD POISONING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My friend and I ate lunch here last week, and within several hours we were both extremely sick, vomiting, etc. It was definitely this place that did it since we had eaten all other meals for the previous few days with my family, and my friend and I were the only ones who got sick. This was totally DISGUSTING. My friend had noticed that the food tasted kind of "off" and the vermicelli was slimy, not like it usually tastes but like it tastes when it's old... We missed Christmas night because we were both completely incapacitated. The entire weekend was a miserable daze of vomiting and nausea. It took several days to recover and I will NEVER subject myself to this again. (Btw, we are Vietnamese /eat VN food all the time) Do yourself a huge favor and WATCH OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)John D.
Right for the price but didn't blow me away. Staff was nice and I didn't notice any language problems ... I'll go back for sure but I won't be running.
(3)Jason M.
If you want Vietnamese food in Boston, you have to go to Fields Corner in Dorchester and eat among the Vietnamese. This place is a cut above its worthy competitors. Order the Chao Tom.
(5)Kat C.
After hearing about this place for the past few months, my family and I finally were able to try it out. We kept hearing how good their 7- course beef meal was and let me tell you...it was amazing! Basically they serve you beef in 7 different ways~2 types of fried beef slices, beef ball, beef wrapped in leaves, beef sausage, raw beef with lemon, and beef congee . The waitress first gave us plates, bowls of hot water, plates vegetables and herbs, dried rice papers, and fish sauce. For every course, we all made our own fresh spring rolls and filled it with the various beef that was served to us. You dip the dried rice paper into the bowl of hot water for a few seconds, place onto your plate, then add vermicelli noodles, bean sprouts, mint, cucumbers and beef. Then you roll it up and dip it into the fish sauce. The food was deelicious. In addition to this we also ordered a grilled catfish- which also is a specialty at the restaurant. The fish was huge so if there's only 2 of you going, you're going to have a lot leftover. This dish could be a meal in itself. All you would need is rice and the catfish. This is by far one of the best Vietnamese restaurants I've been to in a while. I would definitely recommend everyone to try this place.
(5)Q S.
Definitely a great place. I went on a really busy night and the wait was a bit long for the food. The place was packed and it was a great atmosphere. Nothing is really fancy, but it felt like a familiar place. I wasn't particularly hungry so I just got the seafood noodle soup. I really enjoyed my meal and the soup came really hot... just the way I like it.
(4)lynnette p.
cheap and delicious, free parking accross the street. love the peanut sauce and bubble teas. yummy. i havent tried the other vietnamese restaurants in dot, but for the money this place rocks. i order take out all the time its speedy.
(4)Anonymous P.
Pretty good Vietnamese food. I'm not sure it's worth a trek when there's Xinh Xinh in Chinatown, but I don't eat pho, and perhaps the pho is remarkable. Good for the price. Nothing wowed me; I actually prefer the caramelized catfish at Le's in Harvard Square.
(3)Randy C.
We picked up take-out from Pho 2000. It was our first time trying their food and take out probably wasn't the best way to experience the restaurant. We had ordered the pho 2000 dish and container with the soup base broke. The container was half empty by the time we made it back. Fortunately, the take-out was in a plastic bag, but it was still a mess. Anyway, the food was good and plentiful but nothing special. Food is all about the experience to me; this experience was not great, which be reflected in the rating. The inside of the restaurant looked nice. Maybe I'll go back sometime for the full experience to see if it's better.
(2)P D.
At first a part of me thought "Pho 2000? Give me some Pho 2006!" But then I heard that this was the best Vietnamese food in Boston, and I don't doubt it. Eat in or take out, the food is fantastic all around. I love getting an order of Pho to go, and they send me home with a big paper bag filled with little packages of all the ingredients for me to assemble at home. Great meal when you have the sniffles.
(5)Eli G.
Oh I am so lucky to have this hidden gem a 2 minute walk from my house. Maybe Field's Corner should be called "Little Vietnam" for the abundance of great Vietnamese businesses in the ares and if you are looking for authentic Vietnamese food than you need to make the trek to Pho 2000 even if you live nowhere near Dorchester. Their Pho style soup is the best I have had outside of Melbourne, Australia and even made me like tripe (don't ask just eat it). If you want to try something even more adventurous try the Vietnamese Fondue for 2 (similar to Japanese Shabu style) and cook your food at your table.
(5)Erika S.
Seven Courses of Beef. Do it. Do. It. Pho 2000 is one of my favorite holes in the wall in Boston. I've noticed that several reviewers are disappointed/annoyed by the cheesy decor and less than stellar service, but I think that's just part of the experience. I love it all. I've been to Pho 2000 four or five times, I've had the Bo 7 Mon every time except one time when we ordered the fried catfish. I thought the catfish was decent but didn't hold a candle to the beef (my partner felt the opposite). All of the food is great, there's never a wait, the people who work there are incredibly nice (if a bit slow) and very reasonably priced. I've been told that Bo 7 Mon is traditionally served as a wedding dish in Vietnam and I can see why. It's very decadent and filling (make sure to bring your appetite) and there's something special about the procession of lovingly prepared dishes. This place is a real hidden gem, IMHO. Highly recommend.
(5)Natalie L.
I had Christmas lunch here. They have very good grill fish but the rest dishes are not good at all. We ordered grill fish for 2 people. When we came with 4 people the owner told the waiter charge us for the price for 4 (the same fish). The waiter who is Huy( I think) is very nice. He always smiles and had good customer service. Other waitress( I don't know the name) is very mean. When she brought food for us, she waited us clean up the table and put the food in. She didn't give us any good attitude. My lunch is not worth it. I don't recommend this restaurant.
(2)Shir L.
Came here for the infamous Fried catfish. It was good but a bit pricey $64 for a whole fried fish and paid $80, split between 4. I wouldn't eat it daily like the 7 course beef but it was good overall. May return with people, maybe try the 7 course but I'd prefer to go to my usual spot for that.
(3)Teresa C.
Second pho place in Boston. We saw they offered something that I haven't seen at other pho joints, the 7 beef course. I would strongly advise against ordering anything else if you go for the course. For 2 people, it's extremely filling. Even my bf had trouble finishing the courses towards the end so we took the beef congee and a wrapped beef stick to go. I was in for a surprise. I thought it would be like a 7 course pho LOL. What it actually was super different and alien to us. So, the rice paper they gave us was hard like plastic. I thought I would just wrap the beef and condiments in it like it was logical. nein. Never again. The waiter :D patiently explained how to soften the paper. Thank god because the hard rice paper was horribly sharp to my mouth ahaha. Each course had me like :O and was delicious! First, we had a hot pot of beef. Second, was butter fried marinated beef (sweet YUM). Third, was the raw beef with lime juice. Fourth, fifth, and sixth were a ball of beef, meatballs wrapped in some kind of veggie on a stick, and rolled beef on a stick with something in between the rolled beef. Seventh, came the peppery beef and basil congee. Wasn't sure when we were supposed to stop using the rice paper but I used it for courses 1-6. There was also a fish sauce based dipping sauce and different stuffings such as cold vermicelli (like in fresh spring rolls), basil, some other leafy veg, lettuce, carrots, sliced cucumbers, and sliced green apples to go along with the meal. It was an epic way to end our first trip in Boston :).
(5)Sharon Z.
With a mission to find the best bo kho in Boston - I have returned to the town of pho-ness. And I'm glad to announce, I have found my cuinary love at Pho 2000! Bo kho is arguably one of the most flavorful dish in the Vietnamnese cuisine. Essentially a beef stew comprised of beef tips, beef tendons, beef bones, with plenty of carrots, onions, scallions and basils that's there to elevate the flavor and scent of the dish. It's stewed in a heavier sauce, differ from the pho soup and fish sauce that are usually associated with Vietnamnese dishes. Combine that with a bowl of hot steamed rice, the tastiness is heavenly. I love my bo kho with rice and the owner was nice enough to let me subsitute that for the pho noodles. Whoa, was it amazing. The beef was cooked tender with just the right amount of flavor and not so much grease. The proportion of meat to veggie ratio is just perfect. The onions and scallions were working together to satisify my taste buds and sense of smell at the same time and I'm in love. Right there and then.
(4)Missy W.
EXCELLENT pho ga! The chicken was tender and delicious and the broth was excellent. My husband got steak pho and the meat was high quality and perfectly thin. Absolutely delicious!
(5)Moses P.
When you walk into Pho 2000 during a week day during lunch time you can reasonably expect: - Few to no customers and no wait time - Servers who don't really understand English (better practice pointing or brush up on Vietnamese) - Servers who smile a lot and nod their heads even though they really have no idea what you just said - Outdated and strange decor - Delicious, delicious, delicious, delicious Vietnamese food. Some of the best PHO in Dorchester, hands down. I don't know why this place isn't as busy as the other pho joints? It's AWESOME. Highly recommend the Pho 2000 (basically pho dac biet). AND GO TO VERY BERRY AFTER AND GET YOU SOME TARO FRO YO.
(4)Liz F.
Authentic and delicious. Quick service and casual atmosphere. Pork fresh rolls, beef pho, fresh limeade made for a light yet satisfying meal!
(4)Zachary D.
This is my go to pho place but to be honest something has changed in the past few months, and not for the better. I used to love the chicken pho but now they only serve it with beef broth. Also, my pho tai came with tripe which I can't handle. That said, I still love it. We'll see.
(4)An L.
Delicious and very flavorful pho. The vermicelli with shrimp paste really nice, especially with the shrimp paste part. Thumbs up!
(5)Ana L.
Not the prettiest or cleanest place to eat at, but they have the best fried catfish around Dorchester.
(3)Lynsey A.
Love this place! The food is authentic and delicious. The service is always fast and friendly. I just wish they would deliver :)
(5)Erin T.
This review is for 7 courses of beef and fried fish. The 7 courses beef is hands down the best in Dorchester. But if you are on the diet and still want to make those yummy rolls and experience authentic vietnamese eating styles( when it comes to spring rolls) try ca nuong(fried fish). Everything is exact the same like 7 courses but instead of beef you will get fish. Fish is as good as beef too but less work. It is crispy and chewy at the same time. I love both and would recommend this to anyone who aren't afraid to try real Vietnamese food.
(5)Hung T.
Not the best looking Vietnamese restaurant. It just has good food, the original place that brought us grill fish!!! Still my favorite place for that dish. Customer service is good never had any complaints about it. I guess good food and an easy going experience. Definitely needs renovation as of this post.
(4)Ghoerghe C.
My girlfriend and I had seven courses of beef and it was delicious. The meat was very tender, flavorful, and we were stuffed before starting the seventh course. It's very light, and the fresh greens that come with it mean that you won't get the meat sweats:) The service was quite fast too. I would definitely go back, this time to try their fried catfish special.
(5)Chatty Birdie B.
The fried fish here is THE BEST. The waitress here is THE WORST One waitress in particular. The main one. The skinny, long hair, about 5'3 woman. What a b!tttt... ch. Will I come back? Unfortunately.. yes. Why? Because the fried fish here is THE BEST. My family always goes here for family dinners for the fried fish. We don't order anything else. Can't comment on anything else. It would have received a 6 stars from me, but minus two stars for the b!tch... so the end result is a 4 our of 5 stars. I make a point to say that she's a b!tch because EVERY SINGLE time I come here, she's a total b... and I go there a lot..... So, I think I'm safe to tag that title for her now because it's not a one time thing, or a bad day.. Nope.. she's just a B.. But awesome FRIED FISH! :-D! Cleanliness: Myeehhhh Atmosphere: Nyyeehhh Parking: Diagnally across, there is a free parking lot. Customer Service: ..she's a b!tch.. Food: THE BEST FRIED FISH! :)
(4)Julie T.
Vietnamese restaurants are a dime a dozen in Dorchester. The key is to find out which restaurants make which dish the best. Pho 2000 is my go-to place to get Bo 7 Mon a.k.a. 7 courses of beef! I've had Bo 7 Mon at several places in Boston but this place outshines the rest in terms of taste and quality. The service here is subpar but they are generally quick so I don't mind the lack of friendliness. I've had other dishes here and they are all pretty good. If you're looking for pho, I suggest you go to Pho Hoa. But the rice and vermicelli dishes here are worthwhile. Too bad I don't have a car or I'd come here more often. The neighborhood is shady as f*ck so I am reluctant to take the T here. But this place gets my stamp of approval.
(4)Vy V.
I rarely go to Dorchester anymore but when I do it's probably because I'm hungry. And if I'm hungry then I'm most likely going to Pho 2000 if I'm gonna be in Dorchester. I don't remember the last time I just had a bowl of pho here because why get pho when you can get bo 7 mon (7 course beef) or ca nuong (fried fish)?! There is no talking when the food comes out because your mouth is too preoccupied by the deliciousness. Definitely a must eat if you're in the area. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Tiki N.
4 stars for having the best 7 course beef and the one and only place with ca nuong (fried fish) If you're eating 7 course beef or ca nuong you can order in advance so when you arrive they will have it all ready for you. Their nem cuon combine with their dipping sauce is really good as well, love it! BTW, there's parking across the street! :)
(4)Jynny M.
7 beef course and fried catfish here is delicious!!! Only bad thing about this place is the service. Waitress never checks up on u and barely smile. I ate here about 15 times throughout the years and its the same waitress. I only go here when I'm craving the food, but sometimes don't when I think of the lack of service.
(3)Nathan W.
Amazing 7 course beef and fried fish! Brought my family from Cali here and spent over 200 for dinner and it was 100% worth it!
(5)Reginald J.
Frist time eaten beef 7 courses in here by recommendation of my friends. Really love the fried beefs with butters served with fish sauce, i believe. First time eat this and feeling awesome. Recommend this to my other friends and will come back again
(4)Le N.
I rarely am I in Dorchester and when I am - it's because of pho 2000. The very first time I had the 7 beef course, it was from here. And to me, they still do it best. They also have a very good ca nuong (fried fish). Other than these two items, I rarely eat anything else - not because the other food isn't good, it's because the mentioned food are THAT good. =)
(4)Sss L.
I don't consider myself an expert in Vietnamese cuisine, but I love getting pho take-out here. Always fresh and tasty. Two things one should know about ordering take-out from Pho 2000, though: 1. It looks like the menu changed recently, and the dishes are now numbered differently. If you have an older take-out menu, it might still be possible to place a correct order, because they keep a copy of the old menu at the cash register for reference, but why risk the order getting mixed up? 2. An elderly Vietnamese lady who works there frequently messes up the orders. Try to go through the much younger lady who frequently works there, because she is reliable.
(4)Rebecca R.
Fantastic Bò 7 Món. Enough said. :)
(5)Jennifer N.
This is my favorite Pho place.. by far. Granted the decor is a bit dated, the chairs are uncomfortable, but the food is delicious. The chicken eggs rolls are an amazing start. Just enough chicken, lightly fried, and all yummy. If we could eat our meal just of these, we would. I also love the summer rolls. Good mix of vermicilli, tofu, and mint give them lots of flavor, and of course anything dipped in peanut butter is good by me. Pho with beef and one egg roll is my go to dinner. Large portion, lots of beef, veggies, and my favorite mint. The beef is cooked on the grill so has a bit of a smoky taste, but I LOVE it. Don't let the looks fool you- this place is fabulous!
(5)Diana N.
I always came here as a kid to eat Bo 7 Mon (7 beef course) and loved the dipping sauce! Now as a teenager I love their Ca Nuong! For sick days I always order Pho ga, it's the best in Boston. Flavorful brother, white meat chicken shredded with cilantro, scallions and onion slices on top are the perfect toppings to heal a cold quick! I haven't had any of their smoothies in a long time, but I remember that the avocado smoothie was awsome! The service was always okay from what I remember typical Vietnamese service really. The atmosphere is kind of dark to me, even though the mirrors reflect more light it seems pretty dark in there. I remember their funky fish tanks as a kid, I liked sitting by one of the tables with the fish tank and tap on the fish tank while I waited for the food to come. This place brings great childhood warmth and memories. Everytime I eat there I feel like I am re-visiting my childhood days of cold Boston weather with warm pho and always parking across the restaurant in that "shady" parking lot with a lot of trees. Oh the great memories and food!
(3)Tom N.
They have the best fried cat fish in town. It is serve with the pineapple sauce and with lots of different veggie. If u don't know how or don't like spring roll. Than you wouldn't like this. The fish comes in different sizes. So that you can eat it with as many people as you like. The other thing that they have that is really good is their grill meatball spring roll. It comes with this sauce that is yellow in color. I have never found this sauce anywhere ever!!! They wouldn't tell me what's in it...lol
(5)William B.
Slightly better than many of the other Vietnamese places in Fields corner, we tend to order the cold rice noodle dishes(bun) mostly, and the shrimp paste and grilled pork ones are excellent. The fried spring rolls are also great. The service can be a bit random, but if you wave them over manageable.
(4)Nina N.
The pho is better in terms of flavor. I hope you taste your soup when you're eating Pho and not just pouring in a whole lot of hoison sauce and hot sauce you piggy. Lol. The family meal type dishes are also very tasty. One of my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. Here is a nice idea for a family meal. Have the shrimp and cabbage salad, the sweet and sour (shrimp or catfish) soup, the catfish cooked in the clay pot, and big bowl of rice of course. All very yummy. If you loves spring rolls and you love fish and you have to be willing to make your own spring rolls though, you can order the fish of the day to be fried and make for a spring roll dinner. It come with salads and fresh greens, rice noodles, and a giant fried fish (sea bass I think). You have to work your own magic when making the rolls. The fish sauce (mam ruoc) I don't like so much here.
(4)Cherie C.
Good stuff, reasonable prices. The fresh spring rolls, usually my favorite, were good but paled in comparison to the fried ones. The meat was especially flavorful, the rolls crispy and not greasy at all. I ordered a dish described in English as a caramelized sliced catfish casserole. It was good, but unlike any Vietnamese dish I've tried before. We ordered coffee (Vietnamese espresso with sweetened condensed milk) when we ordered dinner. Usually, it brews through at the table and is ready by the time dinner is finished. This came to the table quickly, already brewed and in the cup. Odd. It tasted okay, but the timing was off. It was not very hot when it arrived, so I drank it before the meal arrived, which was a bit too much for my taste buds to handle before the meal. I also don't know how fresh it was. I'll go back, especially to try the whole fried fish that it seemed every other table had ordered.
(3)Susan N.
I heard a lot of good reviews about this place when I first moved to Boston. Back when I used to live in Dorchester, I dragged my ex there. I expected some phenomenal Vietnamese, like the kind my best friend's mom or the restaurants near where I grew up made. Blah. I ordered the pho and it really was nothing special. The meat looked extra grissly. My ex ordered some standard Vietnamese dish and kept insisting the meat smelled old. I finally sniffed it and it smelled like it was rotting. We ended up walking out hungry and unsatisfied. I don't why it got such high ratings. Maybe people don't know what Vietnamese food is supposed to taste like. Seriously, I'd rather go to Sunrise restaurant just down the road. So much better!
(1)Nate Y.
As I gathered with other Yelpers to try the 7 courses of beef, I was most impressed by the chicken soup. It was so tasteful, much better than Le's in my opinion, that it would comfort any ailments. The seven courses of beef was a mixed bag. Enjoyed the first hot pot/shabu style beef, and the buttered beef was very extravagant, but the remaining dishes were so-so and the final beef rice soup I found to be too sweet/salty for my taste. Also be careful of the "special" sauce of vinegar and I don't know what else. All I could think of was old shoe. Price wasn't bad for a party of five, but the service was inattentive with the butter for cooking the beef ending up burning and waiting for the check when the place was not busy at all. I'll come back for the chicken soup and some bubble tea to go please. thx.
(3)Nina H.
This is by far my favorite 7 course beef restaurant EVER. For those who have not had the opportunity to indulge in this MUST DO SO. This restaurant is a small family owned business and if you are seeking an authentic vietnamese restaurant, this is the place. 7 course beef is a fun thing to do with friends. My favorite of the 7 is the well seasoned raw beef which you cook yourself in a pan over a fire in melted butter. Once the meat is cooked, you roll it up in rice paper and add vermicilli, various vegetables and apple slices. This is a wonderful restaurant that you MUST TRY for yourself.
(5)Winnie T.
The fried fish here is pretty good. Super crunchy on the outside, and with lots of flavor in the flesh. It came with everything needed to make spring rolls... a side of cilantro/bean sprouts/cucumbers/veggies, rice paper, vermicelli, and dipping sauce. It was a bit expensive (it depends on market price apparently?) and when we asked, the waitress didn't even know the price and just gave us an estimate ($35-$45). Of course, when the bill came, it was $45 for it (oh Asian people...such hustlers). I've also had the pho here and it's decent--nothing to rave nor complain about. I've had better though.
(3)Pat B.
This the best Vietnamese restaurant that I have been to. With neon signs in the window and inside of the restaurant, the warm lighting makes this place seem cozy and inviting. My friend and I ate there on a Monday night when there were very few other customers so the place was quiet enough for good conversation with lots of nice hot tea to enjoy along with fresh and perfectly prepared food. One of my personal favorites is Bun Tom Nuong or grilled shrimp with vermicelli. On a Friday night it can be crowded so better to come on an off night. Pho 2000 is close to the Fields Corner Red Line stop.
(5)K S.
Had the 7 course beef and bun Bo hue. Yes, both. And they were both delicious! Pho 2000 definitely offers authentic home cooked meals. Don't expect 5 star service!
(4)Yuka Y.
Order their "7 courses of beef". IT'S SO FUN! ++~$35 for a 2 person set. I'd totally come here again for my birthday. Hands on, fun, and filling. Come here starving. The 7 courses entails beef that is cooked in different ways. Everything is DIY. With each different course, you take the beef that you cooked and place them on rice sheets that are normally used to make fresh Vietnamese spring rolls. A mountain of fresh herbs, vegetables, and vermicelli are provided for you to stuff your fresh roll to your liking. Outline of the courses: 1st course- beef dipped in a clear broth + vinegar 2nd course- beef that is cooked in a baby wok with a simmering block of butter 3rd course- raw beef that is lightly marinated. I was a little ambivalent eating raw beef but as long as you're not immunocompromised, you should be okay right? 4th, 5th, 6th course comes on 1 plate- one gigantic ground up beef ball and 2 variations of ground beef on skewers 7th course- beef congee/porridge --The 4th, 5th, and 6th course beef had too much pepper corn in them that weren't finely grinded- so expect to bite on chunks which is not pleasant. I stopped eating them because I do not like pepper corn. My man on the other hand was picking them out to make it bearable to eat. ++The most fun comes out of the first 2 courses and getting to tailor your own rolls. After trying this for the first time, I have serious respect for people who can make beautiful fresh spring rolls. Rice paper is difficult to handle.
(5)Dee T.
Came here on Mother's Day with the boyfriend, his mom, and brother - the food was a-okay not awesome, a horrible experience and it was pretty dirty. We ordered 2 bowls of pho, and the 7 course for two... Some people say that they couldn't finish the 7 course but it wasn't a whole lot ( I left pretty hungry after seeing dead flies) Never coming back, the place is not like what the pictures show on here
(1)Jay M.
Tried to order 2 dishes on the menu but they didnt have... the washroom was so dirty as well as the chopsticks. The service is bad. They wont come to your table unless you call for them. The waitresses are rude and they dont greet you at all.. dirty filthy restaurant, even the menu is sticky. I told the waitress my order in Vietnamese but she still got it incorrect.
(1)Tony J.
This is my first time having Bo Bay Mon (seven courses of beef). Unfortunately, having only heard about it recently, I missed the chance to have it in my entire childhood and college years in California, and now that I'm living in the NYC area there doesn't seem to be a single restaurant around serving Bo Bay Mon. (Searching for Bo Bay Mon near NYC on Yelp gives nothing helpful; googling it only brings up David Chang's Ma Peche, which from the photos doesn't seem authentic at all.) I myself am quite shocked by this, given that this is just Vietnamese food we're talking about, not some random exotic cuisine like Peruvian-Chinese or even Korean-Uzbek! (By the way, both of those do exist in NYC, and the former is called chifa after chi fan, the Chinese characters for eating rice.) The way Bo Bay Mon works is as follows: At the beginning, the server brings you a bowl of hot water, a stack of rice paper, some vermicelli, and various vegetables like lettuce, basil, mint, and bean sprouts. Each course, they will bring you the meat and possibly a hot pot for you to cook it in. You dip the rice paper in the water, add the meat, vegetables, and vermicelli, and wrap it up. These are the seven courses we were served, in order (though 4-6 were brought together): 1. Slices of beef and a hot pot filled with vinegary water. 2. Slices of marinated beef and a hot pot with butter. 3. Slices of marinated beef, to be consumed raw. 4. Beef morsels wrapped in a leaf. Like a dolma, but with beef and Vietnamese seasonings inside. 5. Beef sausages. 6. A large beef meatball on prawn crackers. 7. Beef congee. The food was excellent. My favorite course was the second, since the butter really enhanced the flavor of the already seasoned beef. You could tell that the raw beef slices in the first three courses were very fresh, though for the latter courses a little less so. We also got Vietnamese-style filter coffee, which is stronger than drip coffee but weaker than espresso. The service was very good. Our waitress was very diligent in bringing over all the dishes, and changing the water when it got cold (the rice paper won't stick if you dip it in insufficiently hot water). She offered to explain how to eat the meal, but since someone in our group had had this before we were fine. Note that they offer portion sizes for only two or three people ($32 or $42, respectively, which is pretty low for what is considered fine Vietnamese dining). However, we had four people and ordered the three-person portion, but did not feel hungry afterwards. 81/100
(4)Judith M.
Not to be a nudge, but I really wish there were half stars on Yelp. In the interest of supporting local businesses, I go up, because why not? But0 I'd go 3.5 if I could. Food= solid vietnamese standbys. Seriously delicious Pho: Pho Tai= great broth, perfectly sliced steak Pho GA= nice juicy chicken As usualy, I want more of the side items and have to ask for lime. On other occasions- the fish special was a little over cooked and not that awesome- I wouldn't get it again. The old standard- Bun Thit Cha Gio- grilled pork atop a bed of noodles/salad w/ the beloved Cha Gio- vietnamese egg roll. Totally decent. The Bahn Xeo was good. Not great. but good. The half star would be for environment- I don't mind a no- frills setting, but it's always COLD in there and that really impacts my eating enjoyment, not to mention it makes my food cold which does the same. Service- well, it's hit or miss but always with a good attitude so give em the extra half star for trying. I've been here 4 times and will inevitably go back, so stick w/ the 4 stars.
(4)Steven M.
Great food. The service can be slow at times due to limited staff but be nice to them! Try the fish and don't forget the pho. Pho sure I'll be by again.
(5)Kim P.
The best in Fields Corner: fast, great broth (I tend to always get the Pho Ga), great fried spring rolls (fresh, too)...you can't get better; if I'm over in Allston, I go to Le's; since I'm back in the Dot, it's Pho 2000 all day. The service is also amazing, and every time I've been there (at all hours of the day), it's never too crowded--I've never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a table. You can't park out front anymore, but there's a community parking lot just up to the left. P.S. My fab friend Sarah told me that the best wa to get Pho Ga (chicken noodle soup) is to order it made with beef broth. The flavors are even better-try it!
(5)Lucy L.
I've tried many different Vietnamese restaurants in Dorchester, and Pho 2000 has the best tasting food. The portions are huge, the prices are fair, and service is consistent. We usually get the beef or seafood pho, as well as summer rolls and quail (all of which are delicious). The Pad Thai was really good too. The restaurant isn't as fancy and new as the other places on Dot. Ave, but the food keeps me coming back every time. Note to employees: It's silent in the place - please play music, or at least the TV. Also, maybe you should write down food orders ;)
(4)Daisy O.
This is my favorite take out place. My favorite is their chicken and shrimp vermicelli, fresh spring rolls, and limeade!!! Their fried/broiled fish is also AMAZING!
(5)paul h.
This restaurant has the best seven course beef ever and for a very low price too! I went with my girlfriend and could not finish the the last dish which was the beef rice porridge. There is parking across the street from the restaurant. Be extra cautious when crossing the street because Dorchester drivers are so reckless and will run you over before you get to taste beefy goodness!
(5)Christy T.
My first time here service was alright. I ordered the bun bo hue not so good. There was too much paste and tasted very salty. My daughter had a bite and was done. Waiting for the food took quite sometime not going back.
(1)Tom E.
7 courses! All for 15 dollars? It's time for a question and answer session, I think. Q ::: Is there anything better to do on a Saturday night in Dorchester? A :::: Well, me, a pair of local couples, a group of Vietnamese kids in hoodies and a posse of Khmer kids who'd driven down from Lowell couldn't find anything better for sure. The menu of Pho 2000 does offer lots of other gems - fried squid, fried fish, quails, all that pho... but look around, and nearly all of us here were going for their specialty - the 7 course beef dinner. Q ::: How does this work? A ::::Yeah, I really needed someone to tell me as I was a bit mystified at first but you start out with some basics laid out: a. a plate of uncooked rice paper circles and a bowl of hot water b. a plate of rice noodles c. a (wonderful) plate of fresh raw vegetables - basil, cilantro, lettuce, cucumber, apple etc. d. a gravy of some kind - salty, probably squid with a rice base. Q ::: OK - what are all these for? A :::: They're for making your own summer rolls with stupid! You spin the rice paper in the hot water to melt it until it's loose. You lay it on your plate, put the noodles, veg and meat in, add some hot sauce, roll it up, tuck in the ends and then dip it in the gravy and eat away. You'll suck at first but you'll soon be the expert. Q ::: So what about the meat? 7 courses of beef? A :::: Yeah, let's talk about them. I'm not sure there is an order but here is how they came for us... 1. Beef slices and a vinegar hot pot (on a flame heater) for us to cook them with. 2. Garnished beef slices and a butter frying pan (on the flame heater) to cook them in. 3. Top quality raw beef in lime juice with peanuts to eat RAW (yeah!) 4. A thick and rich rice-based beef soup - almost like porridge. 5. A beef, herb and noodle meatball with crackers. 6. A skewer of beef sausages grilled with leaves around them. 7. A skewer of marinated onion slices wrapped in beef. Q ::: Anything else? A :::: What more do you want??! We were so full it was ridiculous. A good bit of advice would be to take it easy on making the summer rolls - you can get too full too quickly, don't rush. Also it's probably not wise to get their gorgeous avocado shake - that's not exactly lite fare either. Instead be brave and have the lovely salty plum soda. Q ::: Going back? A :::: For sure. The 7 course dinner was a bit too much and is probably better with a large fun group (it's 30 dollars for 2 people minimum). The rest of the menu looks very tempting though, and despite the terrible decor and out of the way area I'll have to be back to try other dishes before I upgrade to 5 stars.
(4)