call it, oh! so yummy!. i've stopped in a couple more times during the colder weather to have more pho to warm my innards and the experience and enjoyment was equally wonderful each time. this time i decided it was time to try another banh mi.
i ordered the banh mi with grilled pork sausage. as my teeth sank into the toasted baguette i realized this was the beginning of a tasty experience. the pickled vegetables are next to reach your tongue. if you bite from the top of the roll you experience the fresh cilantro leaves. if you bite from the bottom, you're adding the great flavor of the grilled pork. both are exciting to your taste buds. so far, i like the banh mi with the grilled pork sausage best of the ones i've tried (the classic with ham and the vegetarian were the others). i've also now identified the bakery where the baguettes come from - bizalion's fine foods, great barrington, ma. i'm sure i'll be visiting there on my next trip.
another first for me was trying pho yum's smoothies. i had a mango one while my wife had an avocado. i preferred mine and she preferred hers. we both ordered our smoothies with tapioca pearls which were about 3/8 inches in diameter. i had thought they would have been blended into the smoothie but they were sitting on top. the straw that comes with the smoothie is about the same diameter as the tapioca pearls. so you might be able to suck a pearl through the straw, or you may choose to capture it with the straw and bring it into your mouth. kind of adds an interesting challenge to your beverage enjoyment!
i didn't bother to describe the shrimp summer rolls, the vegetarian summer rolls, or the chicken pho that was ordered for our table because they were as delicious as previously mentioned in my prior review.
we will continue to return to pho yum for gustatory enjoyment.
-----02 nov, 2011-----
the name of this place says it all!. prior to eating at pho yum i'd only had two different varieties of pho - chicken and beef. yes, you probably could increase that number through a permutation since i've had each with both chicken broth and beef broth, but when more than one person started calling for this new restaurant to also serve pho with tripe and with tendon before it even had a chance to open, i knew i'd been missing out on something.
up for the challenge, i perused the menu and saw that there were 10 different variations of pho offered. it starts off with just the beef broth and rice noodles, and a side plate of bean sprouts, basil, jalapeno, lime, hoisin sauce and sriracha sauce ($6.75) that is used in 8 of the remaining variations. for an additional $1.25 you have the choice of adding one of the following - beef eye round; beef brisket; beef tripe; beef meat balls; beef tendon; or chicken. you can also choose to add shrimp for $1.75. a vegetable broth is also offered ($6.75) and can be combined with tofu and vegetables for an additional $1.50.
if you are counting on your fingers you'll notice that one of the 10 variations is missing. that's the one that i chose to order. for an additional $3.25 you can choose any 3 meats to be added to your broth. this was my opportunity to try tendon and tripe along with some eye round. the broth is full of flavor even before you add any of the sides. squeezing in the fresh lime and tearing the basil leaves into small pieces to add to the broth creates an aroma that helps to prepare you for the culinary adventure you are about to embark upon. of course, use some discretion when adding the sauces, especially the sriracha. you can always add more later. you might have surmised by now that i really enjoyed my pho. i'll be having many more here.
i want to also point out that the portion of broth and noodles, by itself, with the sides, is likely sufficiently large enough to satisfy most people - add any of the meats and you should have a complete meal for ten dollars or less. the bowls are quite large.
since i went with my wife, we were able to try more than just pho. the summer rolls are also offered in several variations. my wife has always been a fan of the vegetarian, bi chay, rolls with shredded tofu and gluten. it still amazes us how they are able to roll the rice paper so tightly with all the noodles, lettuce, cucumber, bean sprouts, mint and basil inside. these were excellent with a vegetarian dipping sauce.
my wife also ordered a bun ($6.75) with chicken (additional $1.25). the combination of rice vermicelli noodles, lettuce, cucumber, bean sprouts, mint, basil, scallions, carrots and chopped peanuts already sounds delicious. but when they finish it off with nuoc mam sauce it becomes a don't leave a drop in the bottom of the bowl indulgent pleasure. in spite of its large size, there was no left-overs to take home.
finally, i need to also say that i've never had an authentic banh mi. so i don't know what one is supposed to taste like. pho yum offers theirs at a base price of $5.25 on a toasted baguette (from a bakery in great barrington, ma) with cucumber, cilantro, scallions, pickled carrots and radishes. once again, for an additional $1 you have the choice of adding grilled pork sausage, or seasoned shredded pork, or grilled sliced beef, or grilled chicken, or grilled tofu. for my dollar i chose still another option - the vietnamese classic ham banh mi with house-made pate, butter, black pepper and soy sauce. i'd be willing to eat these any time. i can now understand why people have been clamoring for someone in the area to offer this delicious combination of flavors. the french baguettes that they use for this sandwich are excellent. the whole combination is simply fantastic.
a final note, i was also able to try the vegetarian version of the banh mi. not being a vegetarian, i have to say that i'd be quite pleased with this any time.
service was quick and efficient. our servers were friendly and in tune with our needs.