Pho Bac Cafe (139 Good Days in Tacoma)

There's something to be said for doing just one thing, and doing it well. Pho Bac Cafe off of MLK is one place that does just that. All they serve is Phở, in four different varieties and three sizes.

Here's the menu, in a nutshell:

Beef Phở (rare, well-done, or meatball)/Chicken Phở/Tofu Phở/Shrimp Phở

Small $5/Large $6/Extra Large $7

That, and a couple of drink options pretty much sums up the menu, which is printed only on a poster.

As soon as we sat down, our server asked us if we'd like to order. The soup arrived about 5 minutes later. The girls shared a small bowl of chicken noodle, while we both opted for the well-done beef. The beef was perfectly tender and easy to eat with chopsticks, and the broth was delicious even before adding basil, serranos, and lime. The small was large enough for one hungry adult, I saw one extra large go out while we were there and it looked like it could have fed a family of four.

In keeping with the general minimalism of the place, Pho Bac is cash only.

Pho Bac Cafe

1115 S 11th St

Tacoma, WA 98405

(253) 272-7270

dining, Vietnamese, Vietnamese map, Hilltop