Pho Quang Trung
I've been to the Pho Quang Trung in Garden Grove, CA once or twice before and to the Pho Quang Trung in Westminster, CA once before.
20100529:
The large was huge... it's practically two smalls put together. And for only 5.18, it's a great buy.
Menu Description:
Pho Ga Co Long, Xe Lua Chicken Noodle Soup with Liver & Gizzard, Large
A bowl of pho is available in the following sizes: Nho {Literally Small} (Small) 4.45 | Dac Biet {Literally Special} (Medium) 5.15 | Xe Lua {Literally Train} (Large) 5.18
I compared family photos with some photos on Yelp.com and was able to match up features to conclude with 100% certainty that 20100529 was Pho Quang Trung 2 (Westminster, CA).
[20100601][20120103]
20120523:
This dish is delicious. For vegetables it has celery, carrots, and greens. It has a good flavor. My dad had a taste (of the noodles) and he said it tastes good, too. My parents said the part that makes the dish is the smoky flavor. They explained this on the way to the restaurant.
Menu Description:
Pho Ap Cho Mem Muc Bo Tom (Soft Fresh Thick Rice Noodle with stir-fried Shrimp, Squid & Beef)
Red Bean Che
Red beans. I like it, but there's the age ol' bad aftertaste. This bad aftertaste is similar to my tendency to dislike peas and soybean, or more generally legumes. There are times however when the aftertaste doesn't kick in. I can, for example, eat edamame. Maybe they have yet to produce the protein(s) which my body associates with peanuts. In any case, this bad aftertaste is not so much a taste, but more of an itchy tongue. It makes me want to scrap my tongue of whatever particles are on it. But I guess since this is at a molecular level, drinking water or soda doesn't solve the problem.
Note to self: While my dad and I didn't get any red bean che on 20121218, I confirmed on Yelp.com that this location does give free red bean soup/dessert. The most recent review stating this was 20121022.
[20120524][20130103]
20120609:
The last time my parents and I came here, my dad ordered pho ga (chicken rice noodle) and I ordered pho ap cho. This time I ordered pho ga and my dad ordered pho ap cho. I ordered a xe lua (large) and was able to finish the noodles and meats, but not all the broth. My mom ordered the vegetarian pho ap chao.
I don't eat pho ga that often, but I'm sure this place is one of the places that make it best. If you want to try pho ga (chicken pho), I'd recommend trying it here.
This time around I simply gave the red bean che to my dad.
Note to self: This place is almost certainly the same place as 20120523, but doesn't necessarily have to be Pho Quang Trung. My vague memory correlates the pho ap cho + pho ga + red bean che with another location. But memories can be deceiving, especially vague ones.
[20120627][20130103]
20121218:
Coming home from Maryland and having pho somewhere in Westminster is practically a tradition. It's a sort of comfort food. Warming the body and soul, it's practically the Vietnamese equivalent of chicken noodle soup. Today, my dad and I each ordered a bowl of pho ga (chicken pho), but got it with a different type of banh pho (Vietnamese flat rice noodle). Instead of the usual dried and small (width) banh pho, we got fresh and medium banh pho. Medium width banh pho, as pictured below, is about the width of a chopstick. Note that fresh banh pho is called "banh pho tuoi."
Note: The entire dried and fresh gets confusing when one takes into account that there's fresh packets which you can find in the refrigerated section, and even fresher banh pho tuoi which has not been refrigerated. Such trays of banh pho tuoi are best consumed the day they are made.
I feel like one benefit is they retain more oil when fresh. Basically banh pho tuoi is like eating long, thin strips of banh uot.
Note to self: I'm 100% sure 20121218 was Pho Quang Trung 2 (Westminster, CA). As of 20130103, I only had restaurant pho at that location.
[20130102]
20140718:
While getting pho after a long flight home from Baltimore-Washington International Airport is a tradition, today marks the last of that tradition, because it would be the last time I'd be flying from BWI to LAX on account of graduate school.
In any case, today I got the standard bowl of pho.
Note that while the table isn't the same as above, I'm 100% certain that we ate at Pho Quang Trung today. After parking, we walked and entered the restaurant, but worried about someone breaking in and stealing my luggage, my dad requested to be seated where he could keep an eye on the car.
[20140828]
20140731:
Today my dad and I ate here and I thought the broth was salty compared to the pho at Kobe House USA. 12:51PM PT
[20140910]
20150325:
Today I came and got a bowl of pho tai gan sach (rice noodle soup with rare beef, tendon, and tripe). It smelled good and I love the thick noodle. 11:10PM PT
It did, however, taste a bit salty towards the end. 11:24PM PT
[20150517]
20150517:
Today I tried something new here: medium-sized #16, pho tai (beef) ve mem (soft flank) + bo vien (beef balls), with pho tuoi.
I liked the soft flank a lot, but the broth was only alright. In particular, I didn't feel like drinking more of it after I finished all the solid ingredients.
While eating, I also noted that the restaurant served their bo vien in slices (as opposed to the standard hemisphere).
[20150615 Edit]
Pho Quang Trung
Relevant Links:
Pho Quang Trung Website
Pho Quang Trung - Westminster, CA (Yelp.com)
Pho Quang Trung - Garden Grove (Yelp.com)
 |
| With bean sprouts and exposing more of the meats |
20100529:
The large was huge... it's practically two smalls put together. And for only 5.18, it's a great buy.
Menu Description:
Pho Ga Co Long, Xe Lua Chicken Noodle Soup with Liver & Gizzard, Large
A bowl of pho is available in the following sizes: Nho {Literally Small} (Small) 4.45 | Dac Biet {Literally Special} (Medium) 5.15 | Xe Lua {Literally Train} (Large) 5.18
 |
| After |
I compared family photos with some photos on Yelp.com and was able to match up features to conclude with 100% certainty that 20100529 was Pho Quang Trung 2 (Westminster, CA).
[20100601][20120103]
20120523:
This dish is delicious. For vegetables it has celery, carrots, and greens. It has a good flavor. My dad had a taste (of the noodles) and he said it tastes good, too. My parents said the part that makes the dish is the smoky flavor. They explained this on the way to the restaurant.
Menu Description:
Pho Ap Cho Mem Muc Bo Tom (Soft Fresh Thick Rice Noodle with stir-fried Shrimp, Squid & Beef)
 |
| Pho Ga Co Da Co Long (Chicken Noodle Soup with Skin and with Liver & Gizzard) |
Red Bean Che
Red beans. I like it, but there's the age ol' bad aftertaste. This bad aftertaste is similar to my tendency to dislike peas and soybean, or more generally legumes. There are times however when the aftertaste doesn't kick in. I can, for example, eat edamame. Maybe they have yet to produce the protein(s) which my body associates with peanuts. In any case, this bad aftertaste is not so much a taste, but more of an itchy tongue. It makes me want to scrap my tongue of whatever particles are on it. But I guess since this is at a molecular level, drinking water or soda doesn't solve the problem.
 |
| Menu, as of 20100529. Check the website for the full and updated menu. |
Note to self: While my dad and I didn't get any red bean che on 20121218, I confirmed on Yelp.com that this location does give free red bean soup/dessert. The most recent review stating this was 20121022.
[20120524][20130103]
20120609:
The last time my parents and I came here, my dad ordered pho ga (chicken rice noodle) and I ordered pho ap cho. This time I ordered pho ga and my dad ordered pho ap cho. I ordered a xe lua (large) and was able to finish the noodles and meats, but not all the broth. My mom ordered the vegetarian pho ap chao.
 |
| Pho Ga with medium-sized banh pho tuoi (Chicken noodle soup with medium-sized, fresh flat-rice-noodle) |
I don't eat pho ga that often, but I'm sure this place is one of the places that make it best. If you want to try pho ga (chicken pho), I'd recommend trying it here.
This time around I simply gave the red bean che to my dad.
Note to self: This place is almost certainly the same place as 20120523, but doesn't necessarily have to be Pho Quang Trung. My vague memory correlates the pho ap cho + pho ga + red bean che with another location. But memories can be deceiving, especially vague ones.
 |
| (20140718) |
[20120627][20130103]
20121218:
Coming home from Maryland and having pho somewhere in Westminster is practically a tradition. It's a sort of comfort food. Warming the body and soul, it's practically the Vietnamese equivalent of chicken noodle soup. Today, my dad and I each ordered a bowl of pho ga (chicken pho), but got it with a different type of banh pho (Vietnamese flat rice noodle). Instead of the usual dried and small (width) banh pho, we got fresh and medium banh pho. Medium width banh pho, as pictured below, is about the width of a chopstick. Note that fresh banh pho is called "banh pho tuoi."
Note: The entire dried and fresh gets confusing when one takes into account that there's fresh packets which you can find in the refrigerated section, and even fresher banh pho tuoi which has not been refrigerated. Such trays of banh pho tuoi are best consumed the day they are made.
 |
| (20140731) |
I feel like one benefit is they retain more oil when fresh. Basically banh pho tuoi is like eating long, thin strips of banh uot.
Note to self: I'm 100% sure 20121218 was Pho Quang Trung 2 (Westminster, CA). As of 20130103, I only had restaurant pho at that location.
[20130102]
20140718:
While getting pho after a long flight home from Baltimore-Washington International Airport is a tradition, today marks the last of that tradition, because it would be the last time I'd be flying from BWI to LAX on account of graduate school.
 |
| Pho Tai Gan Sach (20150325) |
In any case, today I got the standard bowl of pho.
Note that while the table isn't the same as above, I'm 100% certain that we ate at Pho Quang Trung today. After parking, we walked and entered the restaurant, but worried about someone breaking in and stealing my luggage, my dad requested to be seated where he could keep an eye on the car.
[20140828]
20140731:
Today my dad and I ate here and I thought the broth was salty compared to the pho at Kobe House USA. 12:51PM PT
 |
| Pho Tai Ve Mem + Bo Vien (20150517) |
[20140910]
20150325:
Today I came and got a bowl of pho tai gan sach (rice noodle soup with rare beef, tendon, and tripe). It smelled good and I love the thick noodle. 11:10PM PT
It did, however, taste a bit salty towards the end. 11:24PM PT
[20150517]
20150517:
Today I tried something new here: medium-sized #16, pho tai (beef) ve mem (soft flank) + bo vien (beef balls), with pho tuoi.
I liked the soft flank a lot, but the broth was only alright. In particular, I didn't feel like drinking more of it after I finished all the solid ingredients.
While eating, I also noted that the restaurant served their bo vien in slices (as opposed to the standard hemisphere).
[20150615 Edit]
Pho Quang Trung
 |
| Before |
Relevant Links:
Pho Quang Trung Website
Pho Quang Trung - Westminster, CA (Yelp.com)
Pho Quang Trung - Garden Grove (Yelp.com)
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