Is Pho Healthy?
 

So what do you guys and gals think, does Pho qualifies as healthy food? As in not too much fat, and you don't feel extremely guilty after going out for some Pho.

I had some today, and I tend not to think about things like that :D

Pho is healthy. You just have to be careful where you get it as some places load it with MSG.

Pho is the Vietnamese noodle soup. Its pronounced like pha. I live in Orange County and Westminster is where Little Saigon is located.

There are several really popular Pho restaurants in the area. Unfortunately, the ingredient that makes the restaurant type Pho taste good is the meat. The tastier the meat, the better it sells. That means fat content.

I personally like the broth flavor, noodles, bean sprouts, and fresh green leaves. So I end up removing the meat part right away.

Home made Pho is better in that the broth is cooked for a while with different types of meat like chicken or pork neck bones. Then the cook can simmer and skim off any excess fat before serving. There is enough flavor so no need for MSG.

It has fat in it, but does not seem inordinately fatty. And it's goooood.

I'm not a fan of the stuff, personally, but I think the places I've had it must pour a 1/2 cup of oil into the broth. Plus, it's mostly jsut a ton of noodles and very little veggies, bits of meat and an egg. The only place I've had it that I liked it was on Sawtelle in West LA. It was very good there, but I didn't eat all the noodles, I just ate a few and stuck to the stuff in the broth. I preferred the spicy cucuumber pickles that we were given an order of like a little appetizer.

its got quite a bit of fat and MSG usually, I like it myself but usually get the skinless chicken one. Most of the Pho restaurants have a ton of variations of the soup, so you can usually forgo the fatty meat, tripe, etc.

mmm, now i'm hungry:D

Pho shizzle yo!

Healthy? I dunno, i doncare. :lol:

My fave is with the charbroiled beef. :D Mostly because you don't get all the fatty/tendon ish...

In Asia, noodle shops are the equivalent of our fast food burger stands.

So as far as fast food goes, it's WAY healthier.

I don't think there's many calories in it though, as I tend to get hungry very quickly after eating a large bowl of Pho.

#46 Pho at Noodle Planet in Alhambra on Valley Blvd. near 8th St. is primo!!:D

Is this turning into a BF Pho outing? :D

Noodle Planet! One of my fave places! Doh!!

Pho tai at Golden Deli on Mission/Las Tunas is oh-so-pho-king good that I wouldn't give it a second thought if it wasn't that healthy - it's not like I eat it every day either. Pho is the least of my worries, I'm a sucker for the fried egg rolls . . .

Makes me thirsty as heck afterwards, though, so I try not to drink the soup that remains after the noodles are gone.

http://luwin.smugmug.com/photos/115618474_HcY4B-L.jpg

Dang it, now you're going to make me check it out now ... right before I drive back home.

It can, if someone wants to organize it. hint hint. ;)

Do it - you won't regret it. I used to be a big fan of Pho79 in Alhambra but they changed their fried egg rolls, so now it's exclusively Golden Deli for me. Enjoy!

Why don't you check it out after you drive back home?

Pho Super Bowl in Chino is my local Pho restaurant which happens to be pretty good too:

5460 Philadelphia St
Chino, CA 91710

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...=16&iwloc=addr

If my girlfriend says it's good, then it must be (she's vietnamese and been to more than her share so she knows the good from the bad). :D

Umm....Pho (I usually go for the chicken) and fresh spring rolls...now I'm getting hungry!

My assistant is Vietnamese and this is what he always orders for me: "Who Too Ka Ben Yong" . Fish and noodle soup. Yummy.

umm ... I live in NorCal, that's why.

Well, honey, you're just going to have to plan a PHO ride and introduce me to #46. :D

pho 999. three or four locations in the SFV. good, fast, and cheap......boo yah!

I thought the pronunciation is "flur" (drag the "l" out in a lazy kind of way).

In San Diego, the one on Clairemont Mesa opposite to Ranch 99 is pretty good. I think they may be loaded with MSG though, because I always get thirsty after a meal there.

The variation I like the best are the "house special" ones. They have it in almost every Pho places and it's just a combination of every thing. The "raw beef" slices one is the best IMO; you just need to make sure you order them in a clean looking Pho shop. :D

Personally, I don't think they're really that healthy because of the soup base. They should be healthier than McD burgers, but I still wouldn't eat it everyday.