Owner Phi-Nhung "Nina" Nguyen created the spicy lemongrass pho for her husband Michael, who loves spicy food, and put it on the menu only after a customer tried it and approved. She makes it in two parts: a long-simmered broth, and a separate lemongrass chili paste fried in oil and added to order by spice level. Diners pick their toppings — the "number 11" combination comes with all of them, and Nina warns that customers sweat and turn red-faced from the heat.
Washington DC
Pho Viet
Spicy Lemongrass Pho
beef / onion / ginger / rock candy / oil / garlic / white onion / lemongrass / shrimp paste / MSG / sugar / annatto oil / dried chili / rice noodle / eye round / tendon / meatball / brisket / flank / green onion / cilantro / bean sprouts / basil / lime /
Signature Dish
From Prep to Plate
Seth Tillman visits Pho Viet in Washington, D.C.'s Columbia Heights to try the dish the neighborhood lines up for: spicy lemongrass pho. Chef Nina walks Seth through her slow-simmered beef broth — onion, ginger and rock candy instead of sugar — then builds the fiery lemongrass chili paste with garlic, shrimp paste, annatto oil and dried chili. Seth goes all in on the number 11 combo (eye of round, tendon, meatball, brisket and flank) at medium spice, then loads it up with bean sprouts, basil, lime and jalapeño.
Spicy lemongrass pho ordered at full spice (hot but not unbearable) is the best pho I've ever had, and I've [had] quite a lot of pho in my years. If you love pho this is a must try in DC.
Darryl K, Tripadvisor
