Vietnamese snacks for 'starving students'
Spring rolls, wontons among cuisine offered at local Pho Than
Desiree Aguirre
Issue date: 11/16/09 Section: Entertainment
Pho Thanh and Café, located at 2108 N. 4th Street, serves authentic Vietnamese food at reasonable rates. Sau Nguyen, 78, and his family moved from Saigon to the United States in the 80s. Nguyen said he worked in construction for 10 years and then opened his first restaurant in Spokane.
"We all family owned and operated," Nguyen said while smiling broadly. "Have four sons and they all work in business."
Nguyen said he gets to work early every morning to prepare the food for the day.
"Everything fresh," Nguyen said. "Soup left over from day before, I throw it away."
Nguyen moved to Coeur d'Alene six years ago. They are the only Vietnamese restaurant in town.
The fresh Vietnamese spring rolls ($3) bring me back repeatedly. Filled with shrimp, noodles and basil, they can be dipped in a mildly spicy peanut sauce. Better yet, a little chili sauce on the side adds zest and pizzazz to these tasty morsels. In fact, two rolls fill me up, and if I'm by myself, that's all I need to order.
If I have company, I do my best to convince them to share a bowl of the won ton soup with me. The small bowl (the hearty broth fills and satisfies and makes everything else-- shrimp, pork, chicken, noodles, won ton, fresh basil and onions--simply garnish) will feed two people. The waiters will bring extra bowls if requested.
My daughter DaNae always orders a rice dish served with fresh cucumbers, fried egg and pork. The sauce borders on decadence, and the cucumbers add a delightfully delicious crunch to the meal. We share the plate, $9, with an order of spring rolls, $3, and still come home with leftovers.
The café serves beer, wine, soft drinks, and coffee. Coffee with condensed milk is like drinking desert, and I highly recommend it.
Nguyen said that the café has a faithful following. Most customers (like me) order the same item every time. He said number 14 is very popular, but I stick with my won ton soup and spring rolls.
The café is about a 10-minute drive from NIC. Driving east on Sherman avenue. and turning left on 4th street can access it. It is near Appleway on the other side of Dave Smith Motors.
The Pho Thanh and Café is one of my favorite spots in the area. It has a variety of items that titillate the tongue and tummy. Best of all, they serve enough to feed a starving student at affordable rates.
"We all family owned and operated," Nguyen said while smiling broadly. "Have four sons and they all work in business."
Nguyen said he gets to work early every morning to prepare the food for the day.
"Everything fresh," Nguyen said. "Soup left over from day before, I throw it away."
Nguyen moved to Coeur d'Alene six years ago. They are the only Vietnamese restaurant in town.
The fresh Vietnamese spring rolls ($3) bring me back repeatedly. Filled with shrimp, noodles and basil, they can be dipped in a mildly spicy peanut sauce. Better yet, a little chili sauce on the side adds zest and pizzazz to these tasty morsels. In fact, two rolls fill me up, and if I'm by myself, that's all I need to order.
If I have company, I do my best to convince them to share a bowl of the won ton soup with me. The small bowl (the hearty broth fills and satisfies and makes everything else-- shrimp, pork, chicken, noodles, won ton, fresh basil and onions--simply garnish) will feed two people. The waiters will bring extra bowls if requested.
My daughter DaNae always orders a rice dish served with fresh cucumbers, fried egg and pork. The sauce borders on decadence, and the cucumbers add a delightfully delicious crunch to the meal. We share the plate, $9, with an order of spring rolls, $3, and still come home with leftovers.
The café serves beer, wine, soft drinks, and coffee. Coffee with condensed milk is like drinking desert, and I highly recommend it.
Nguyen said that the café has a faithful following. Most customers (like me) order the same item every time. He said number 14 is very popular, but I stick with my won ton soup and spring rolls.
The café is about a 10-minute drive from NIC. Driving east on Sherman avenue. and turning left on 4th street can access it. It is near Appleway on the other side of Dave Smith Motors.
The Pho Thanh and Café is one of my favorite spots in the area. It has a variety of items that titillate the tongue and tummy. Best of all, they serve enough to feed a starving student at affordable rates.
Be the first to comment on this story