What the pho?! Top pho places in San Antonio
by R Intern, Lauren Patterson
So what is pho and how do you even say it? Pho, pronounced fuh, is a Vietnamese noodle soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs and meat. It is essentially like ramen, but technically speaking, pho is the type of white rice flour noodle used in the dish, while ramen is a dish of Chinese origin that uses Chinese-style ramen noodles. We’ve compiled a list of our top pho places in San Antonio along with some of our favorite activities to do before or after enjoying a meal.
First off, we have Pho Kim Long. Funny name, serious pho. Located at 4230 McCullough Avenue, 78212, Pho Kim Long offers superb, traditional pho for a great price. May we also recommend the spring rolls? They won’t disappoint. After you enjoy your meal, hop on over to Meadow, a local boutique in Olmos Park with high-end fashion and jewelry. Now if that’s not a fantastic Girls Night Out, we don’t know what is.
Second on the list is Berni Vietnamese Restaurant at 8742 Wurzbach Road, 78240. From beef to chicken to even meatballs, Berni delivers when it comes to pho. Our favorite is the original Berni Pho, which is a combination of rare steak, brisket, tripe, tendon and meatballs. Whoa, talk about a loaded pho. And only four minutes up the road is Wurzbach Ice House, which is a fun-atmosphere bar with indoor and outdoor games, perfect for any post-pho date night.
photo credit: Savor.tooth
Next up is one of our personal favorites, Kimura. Located at 152 E. Pecan Street, Suite 102 (on the corner of E. Pecan and St. Mary’s), Kimura serves up some of the best Japanese dishes and is one of San Antonio’s best izakayas, or Japanese pubs. Now, technically Kimura serves ramen, not pho, but it just had to make the list because it’s that good. We suggest the Tonkotsu with pork belly. And after dinner, how about a walk along the River Walk to end the night?
photo credit: cook and kate
Last but surly not least is Viva Pho, located at 2114 NW Military Highway, 78213. Its menu is extensive and the pho is off the chain. And what’s more perfect to pair with your pho than a boba tea drink? Make sure to try out the milk green tea with boba and jelly, yum! But wait, before you dive into that big, warm bowl of pho, we suggest driving a few more minutes north and taking an indoor cycling class at JoyRide Texas at Alon, a high-intensity workout studio that is sure to get you good and hungry for all of that yummy Vietnamese food.
In its origin, pho is eaten as a breakfast food, like cereal for us. But we won’t judge you if you devour it at night. So go get your pho on!