large portions + cheap price = great value. vietnamese food - largely characterized in the united states by bowls of pho - seems to be the new trendy cuisine these days, much like thai food (led by phad thai) was a few years ago. regardless, this is one trend i won't complain about, as i am a fan of both the cuisine and of the growing diversity of international delights that we have available to us recently. if you've never ventured into vietnamese food, what are you waiting for?
pho asian noodle house is a casual, family-owned establishment located in the old vintage taco bell building on the north side of lane avenue just west of campus. don't judge the book by its cover, however, as this still sits as a little gem in upper arlington's repertoire. there is parking for about 10 cars in the lot outside, with the drive-thru still open as an option. if you didn't call ahead, though, i'd advise against the drive-thru, as once youplaceyou're order, they'll just ask you to pull ahead and wait for it to be prepared. when dining inside, youplaceyour order at the counter and then have a seat. the staff will bring your order out once its ready (around a 5 minute wait) and then they'll buss your table when you're finished. the décor is modest, but they do have several televisions, as well as a bevy of ohio state memorabilia, hung on the walls.
the menu is very accessible to almost everyone, with a variety chinese and thai dishes alongside the vietnamese options. in addition, these dishes seem to be tailored to both those patrons accustomed to only the americanized version of asian cuisine (options such as general tso's chicken and crab rangoon) and those looking for a more-authentic experience (options such as pho dac biet and thai tom kah gai). further, they do allow you to customize their dishes as much as you like, such as increasing the heat level or leaving out a particular ingredient. and if you order any of the pho or noodle soup options, don't be surprised when they hand you a heaping plate full of accompaniments such as bean sprouts, holy basil, and chili peppers for you dining pleasure.
the best part, however, is that the price for almost all entrees is around $6-7, the portions are large enough to allow for a bounty of leftovers, and the food itself is far better than your average asian fare. the staff is quite polite and inviting, too, so no complaints as far as service. also, they do not serve alcohol here, but the thai iced tea w/soy milk is a great substitute.
it would be tough for me to say that this is the best vietnamese or asian food in columbus, but it is very good, comparably cheap, and certainly worth a try. if you fancy vietnamese food, i'm sure you've probably already heard of this place; if you're new to the cuisine, i'd recommend you go ahead and take the plunge, as it seems it will be around for a while. enjoy.
must-try dish: thai curry chicken fried rice (yellow curry, for those curious)