phooooooooooooo

I went to a pho place called Pho 32 in Koreantown today. People at work talked about the place and I had to check it out. Plus, Akiko seemed interested in going there too. We have been planning on going there but last time, I totally forgot that we were gonna go there so I went back home straight from work and missed the opportunity... Anyhow, today was my first day at the new place. I didn't really know the area around my office but I just wanted to do something before I go home. Getting out of work a lit later than the last place, I was sooo ready to eat dinner. In this kind of cold weather, noodle soup seemed like the best choice. Luckily I got a hold of Akiko after work and we planned to meet up in front of the restaurant. When I was about to walk into the restaurant, Akiko came out of the door. I guess she had been waiting in line for us and unexpectedly they called her twice in a row before I got there. She thought of calling me again but that was when I just got there. Since I saw her right away, I didn't pay attention to how the store looked from the outside. It was crowded and I knew the reason when I sat down. The tables were so narrow that the chair would hit the table legs when moved towards the table. The set-up is very interesting. Each person has this hole on the table for individual hot pot or shabu shabu, which is covered by a lid if not needed. I considered doing my own mini hot pot like the girls at the next table but I was in the mood for pho. Pho's semi-transparent rice noodle was occupying my mind, lol. Mmm... The beef brisket pho was nothing special but the cold vermicelli noodles with chicken was kinda different. You pick your own sauce from the counter in addition to fish sauce (of course, you can get rid of the fish sauce if you like). Your choices are peanut sauce, hot pepper sauce, and sweet brown sauce... I didn't try them all but Akiko really liked the peanut one out of all they had. She offered me a piece of the grilled chicken. It was tender and tasty with its subtle charcoal flavor. There was a couple who ordred steak with rice. I felt my stomach reacting to it even if I was full from the pho. It seems like there is more to explore at this restaurant and I like it! There is more than pho at Pho 32...mmm..... Sorry for not having any pictures... but I promise to take a picture of something goooood at this restauarnt.