A New Taste Sensation: Vietnamese Food Comes to South Charleston – Pho Vinh Long

Pho Vinh Long, the area’s first Vietnamese restaurant, is scheduled to open October 10 on D Street in South Charleston.

Named after a famous Vietnamese dish and a town in that country, the restaurant will seat about 30 diners and feature bamboo floors.

Pho (rhymes with “duh”) originated in Vietnam in the 1880’s and spread to southern and central Vietnam, gaining in popularity, during the 1950’s.  It is a rice noodle dish served in a flavorful broth which takes many hours to prepare.  Traditionally, the broth is made by simmering beef (and sometimes chicken) bones, oxtails, flank steak, charred onion, and spices.  Seasonings may include cinnamon, star anise, charred ginger, cloves, and black cardamom pods.  Thin slices of beef or chicken are added to the dish.  It usually arrives at your table with accompaniments including green onion, cilantro, Thai basil, lemon or lime wedges and bean sprouts.

Vietnam’s best known dish is meant to be enjoyed with both hands: chopsticks in one, grabbing the noodles, and soup spoon in the other to scoop up the broth.

Of course, Pho Vinh Long will offer other items including rice dishes, goi cuon (spring rolls) and cha gio (eggrolls). 

Already wildly popular in major metropolitan areas of the United States, pho is sure to become a favorite among the foodies of Charleston.  Over 1000 Pho restaurants operate in this country, including national chains like Pho Hao.

For more information about pho and other Vietnamese foods, try visiting phofever.com or wikipedia.

Be sure to give Pho Vinh Long a try, we sure will!