Pho Of Aurora

Address: 12752 Aurora Ave N Seattle, WA 98133

Phone: (206) 363-5840

Prices:
Small - 5.95
Large - 6.95

Rating: 4.5

Pho of Aurora was a huge surprise. As you drive by, all you notice is a rundown, bland, grey building which made me a little weary. Expecting a dirty run down interior, I was surprised to find that the inside was a little run down but was extremely clean. The people who run the restaurant take pride in keeping the place clean. My waiter was quick to help and extremely friendly. The menu was typical Vietnamese fare with vermicelli and rice dishes and the typical full gamut of pho options.

As the soup arrived at my table I noticed how fresh the condiments and soup looked. There was a perfect amount of noodles to meat ratio and a perfect amount of tripe and tendon. The broth was a little lighter in color then I have become accustom to but it was very flavorful and balanced. There were no tastes that stuck out more than others. Really the only thing that I can complain about my experience at Pho of Aurora was the fact that the jalapeno was sliced a tad but thicker then I normally like, but that was easily forgiven.

This was one of the best bowls of soup I have enjoyed since starting this blog. If they offered a free cream puff I may have given them a perfect score. They even take credit cards, which is so rare at small local pho places in Seattle. Please don't be scared by the meager looks on the outside. If you go in you will have a great meal.

5 Seasons Grill

  

 

Address: 9724 Aurora Ave N Seattle, WA 98103

Phone: (206) 522-5550

Website: http://5seasonsgrill.com

Prices:
Small - 4.99
Large - 6.49

Rating: 3.5


5 Seasons Grill is conveniently located close to 105th on Aurora. The outside looks like many of the rundown restaurants that sport Aurora, with the difference being the appearance of the 5 Seasons trying to look nicer. The inside appears to be a remodeled older Chinese restaurant. They offer a full Vietnamese menu with all of the standard pho options. The restaurant was so busy that it took longer then one would expect. The people at our table received their food at a staggered rate - the people who did not order pho got their meals almost 10 minutes before those who did.

I have tried the pho here before and was very unimpressed. I was a little worried about visiting again but i wanted to make sure to give it a second try and give it a proper review. To my pleasant surprise, my meal this time around was much better but it wasn't without its flaws. I ordered a bowl with tripe, but the tripe was missing. The noodles were just slightly over cooked but not so much that they were too mushy to enjoy. Other than these small issues I found the soup much better than my first visit. The broth was full flavored and slightly sweet. The meat was quality and the condiment plate was both fresh looking and tasting. I also ordered a few spring rolls on this visit - they were nothing special but were tasty and I would order them again.

Overall, I will eat here again. I enjoyed it and it is very close to my house at the moment but I am fully aware of the fact the I might not always get the same quality meal.