Pho 32 & Shabu is a Vietnamese-Korean restaurant located on Bell Boulevard. Anyone that takes the Q44, Q20A, or the Q20B to Main Street can then take the Q12 to get there after school with friends, or stop by with family.
The restaurant is located near a few other mixed Korean restaurants. However, its biggest competition, Tosocchon— a primarily K-BBQ and stew restaurant — recently closed down permanently. However, I would still say the restaurant isn’t too crowded as there are still many other Korean restaurants in the area to choose from.
Immediately upon entering the restaurant, I could feel the homey atmosphere as the warm lights lit up the dim wood walls. Although the employees immediately spoke in Korean, I saw them very quickly accommodate non-Korean speaking customers as well.
My friend and I were offered a seat at a table of four by the windows. The menus were already laid out, as well as the Sriracha and soy sauce, and we were soon handed iced water. The menus also had steps explaining how to properly mix and eat pho, as well as how to prepare shabu if you chose to order it. Not more than five minutes after we were seated, we were asked for our orders by a kind waiter.
My friend and I had a very brief conversation before we were speedily served our steaming food, accompanied by small platters of kimchi, soybeans, lime wedges, and a mix of cilantro and basil.
Brisket & Flank Pho
$14.49 (Large)
Critic Rating: 9/10
The Brisket & Frank Pho was $14.49 and one of the seven options on the menu. When I got it, I was initially worried it’d be extremely hot from the steam coming out of it, but I was surprised to see how it was the perfect level of warmth — not too cool that it felt old, but not too hot that I had to blow on it. It was freezing outside, and just a single slurp of the noodles and broth warmed me up at once. Mixing some of the cilantro and basil and squirting a bit of the lime gave the pho a slightly tangy, yet pleasant flavor and varied the texture. The kimchi, however, had a strange seafood-like aftertaste that made it taste way too sour, causing me to rarely have it with the pho.
However, once a bit of time passed, the noodles got cold very quickly, and there seemed to be more onions than noodles the more that I dug into the bowl. Still, I was left feeling full and warm after finishing.
Brisket, Flank & Soft Tendon Pho
$14.49 (Large)
Critic Rating: 7.5/10
The Brisket, Flank & Soft Tendon Pho was just like the Brisket and Flank Pho — steamy and the perfect level of warmth upon arrival.
However, it quickly lost its charm after a few bites. The meat tasted flavorless at certain points, despite there being a larger quantity compared to the previous bowl. Just like the Brisket and Flank Pho, it also felt like there were more onions than actual noodles. The broth was the saving grace of the bowl, staying consistently rich and flavorful throughout the meal.
Pho 32 and Shabu can offer a nice meal for those looking for pho between a $10-20 price range. Its warm bowls are very comforting, especially in the freezing winter season. The food also came out extremely quickly — not just our tables, but others as well — and the difference between ordering a medium and large bowl is only about a dollar. Our servers also offered my friend and I some candy, seeing as we were underage, which was very charming. Even if you don’t speak Korean or Vietnamese, communication will not be an issue.
If you’re looking for a pleasant atmosphere with affordable, warm food, Pho 32 and Shabu is the place for you!
