Andy Vo, the owner of the new pho spot Pho Hello, is set to sign a lease at 9048 Adams Avenue sometime next week. Vo shared with What Now Orange County on Thursday, that a family friend owns the building. “Because it is owned by a family friend I thought why not?” Vo said. The opening date is still up in the air, but the goal is sometime in late September.
“We are looking to showcase raw, traditional Vietnamese food to non-Asian folks, to help them be more open to trying the full spectrum of the cuisine.”
The new joint will be offering a variety of Vietnamese dishes, all of which will provide a welcoming feel for diners to try less popular dishes in the cuisine. “In Western culture, people are startled by words like intestine, tripe, etc. I want to influence people to try new things.”, Vo told What Now Orange County.
Pho Hello’s menu will offer a variety of dishes along with classic pho. Pho Ap chao, a pan fry style pho is a crispy or soft noodle dish that will be featured. Banh Xeo will be the signature dish that is offered at Pho Hello, it is a savory Vietnamese crepe that is eaten with a bed of veggies and herbs like a wrap. “A special house-made umami sauce will be used for some of the dishes,” Vo mentioned. The ultimate goal that he has to take the menu to a new modern level is to include as many of the ingredients as possible to create a more approachable feel to the less common cuisine in the area.
Vo has a catering business that he has been running for years, he has finally decided to open a brick-and-mortar to bring to life his dream of sharing traditional Vietnamese foods with the non-Asian demographic in Orange County. “There are so many dishes in the cuisine beyond just pho.”
The restaurant will have a new feel to it, less like traditional Vietnamese joints and more so modern. Vo shared that the space will be fully remodeled and have wood floors with textured and paneled walls. “We are going to set a new standard, that’s the goal.”
Editor’s Note: Banh Xeo was misspelled, we greatly regret this error.
