Cold weather is a great time for Pho Hot
Now that the weather is getting colder, it’s an excellent
time for pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup that’s a hearty meal in a bowl.
time for pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup that’s a hearty meal in a bowl.
One of the top places for pho [pronounced fuh] in Annandale is Pho Hot, 7224
Little River Turnpike (near Blockbuster in the Little River Plaza Shopping Center). The spacious restaurant offers several
different kinds of pho: beef brisket, steak, chicken, meatball, and seafood, along
with other items, like spring rolls, Vietnamese beef stew, grilled chicken,
grilled shrimp, and bubble tea.
Little River Turnpike (near Blockbuster in the Little River Plaza Shopping Center). The spacious restaurant offers several
different kinds of pho: beef brisket, steak, chicken, meatball, and seafood, along
with other items, like spring rolls, Vietnamese beef stew, grilled chicken,
grilled shrimp, and bubble tea.
“Pho is a very healthy and affordable dish,” says Manager Mimi
Nguyen. “We want to bring it to the mainstream.” There are several vegetarian
options on the menu, and Mimi says some people come from as far as Maryland for
the vegetarian pho chay made with soy protein.
Nguyen. “We want to bring it to the mainstream.” There are several vegetarian
options on the menu, and Mimi says some people come from as far as Maryland for
the vegetarian pho chay made with soy protein.
Pho Hot’s owner, Tu Nguyen, Mimi’s mother, had been one of
the original “boat people” who fled Vietnam following the fall of Saigon after
the Americans left and the communists took over.
the original “boat people” who fled Vietnam following the fall of Saigon after
the Americans left and the communists took over.
 |
| Tu and Mimi Nguen at Pho Hot. |
Tu Nguyen, along with Mimi and her brother, escaped on an
11-foot boat with 62 people aboard. “It was very risky and very scary,” she
says. “We were lucky we were not attacked by pirates.”
11-foot boat with 62 people aboard. “It was very risky and very scary,” she
says. “We were lucky we were not attacked by pirates.”
They were rescued during a storm on the sea and taken to a
refugee camp in Singapore and then to another camp on the Indonesian island of
Galang where they spent a year in barracks with thousands of other people. It
was a horrible experience, recalls Tu. “There wasn’t enough food or water. Half
the people didn’t make it. They either drowned at sea or were killed by pirates
or land mines.”
refugee camp in Singapore and then to another camp on the Indonesian island of
Galang where they spent a year in barracks with thousands of other people. It
was a horrible experience, recalls Tu. “There wasn’t enough food or water. Half
the people didn’t make it. They either drowned at sea or were killed by pirates
or land mines.”
They were eventually aided by a relief organization, which helped
them relocate to the United States. Tu Nguyen worked 12-14 hours a day, seven
days a week while learning English and caring for her young children. She
eventually went to school to train to be a dental technician.
them relocate to the United States. Tu Nguyen worked 12-14 hours a day, seven
days a week while learning English and caring for her young children. She
eventually went to school to train to be a dental technician.
During all those years, her goal was to start a business
“and live the American dream,” Mimi says. Like so many other immigrants, “we
believed if you do hard work, it will pay off. There are so many more
opportunities here, so much more freedom here.”
“and live the American dream,” Mimi says. Like so many other immigrants, “we
believed if you do hard work, it will pay off. There are so many more
opportunities here, so much more freedom here.”
Eventually, Tu Nguyen saved up enough money to open a small
nail salon and later launched Pho Hot. She is now also part owner of another
Vietnamese restaurant, Present, at 6678 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church.
nail salon and later launched Pho Hot. She is now also part owner of another
Vietnamese restaurant, Present, at 6678 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church.
Pho Hot is open seven days a week, 8 a.m.-midnight. Mimi
says a lot of people come in early Sunday morning because “pho is a good cure
for hangovers.”
says a lot of people come in early Sunday morning because “pho is a good cure
for hangovers.”
2 responses to “Cold weather is a great time for Pho Hot”
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I love stories like this. Mimi and her mother Tu, and other hardworking, enterprising immigrants determined to grab hold of the American dream, are who make this country stronger and more vibrant.
What a good story. We should have more Vietnamese come over, so they can enjoy a nice life and give us good Pho! 🙂