If you're in Redmond and want to eat pho, go to Than Brothers in downtown Redmond instead of Pho Hoa. The Pho Hoa experience is a mixed bag. Overall, I was not impressed. They have nice menus that explain in detail (verbally and visually) what goes into each bowl of pho. The menus even helpfully categorize the offerings into those for newbies or the less adventurous all the way to those bowls geared toward people who can't get enough tendon (yum!) or tripe. They have more Vietnamese fare, like shrimp rolls and fruit smoothies, but I'd rather my pho restaurants focus on pho. Their broth was too sweet for my taste. They also use lower quality cuts of meat with too much fat and gristle still on them. The meat was already cooked when it came to the table. A good bowl of pho has meat that is still rare and cooks in the hot broth as you stir it up yourself. They only offer two sizes (small or large). While the small is about the same size as Than Brothers' medium, it also costs quite a bit more (just over $5). I prefer to get a small for $3.85 at Than Brothers. Also, you only get free cream puffs at Than Brothers!
One of my lunchmates said he thought the chicken pho was better at Pho Hoa than Than Brothers, but I wouldn't know since I've never had it at either location.
more