Pho Scene in the United States – Part 2
The pho dish seems rather out of place in the US dining trend, which veers more toward the convenient self-service and quick-service food segment. Pho, on the other hand, is very difficult to prepare, taking literally hours to prepare the broth and extract the flavor from the bones and the beef or chicken. And it’s not convenient to serve, certainly not at a drive-through window. However, it currently enjoys its share of popularity with Americans, and restaurants serving only the noodle dish are springing up all over the United States, with major locations throughout California, Chicago, Texas, Nevada, and several other states. . This noodle dish may not be as affordable as the major fast food chains in the US, but where there’s a restaurant nearby, the area simply goes into pho rush.
Expansion of Pho’s influence
Currently, pho restaurants are still expanding, although the current state of expansion has pretty much already conquered the United States where it could. Aside from that, experts like Andrea Nguyen and Tom Nguyen now operate websites, VietWorldKitchen.com and PhoFever.com respectively, that are dedicated to Vietnamese cuisine or just pho. Mai Pham, a well-known restaurateur and owner of Lemon Grass Grill in Sacramento, California, is also a staunch supporter of the dish and arguably the most popular Vietnamese chef in the United States. These three, along with other fans, express their dedication to Vietnamese staple food. Mai Pham has even partnered with Campbell Soup to create commercially available ready-to-eat quick packs.
The Pho Franchise is the Natural Next Step
PhoFever.com, meanwhile, has compiled a comprehensive list of restaurants serving tempting noodle dishes across the United States. An extremely popular name on the list, one that you are likely to come across quite a few times, is Pho Hoa. Pho Hoa is currently the largest pho restaurant chain in the world. In fact, even something as specific as the history of this franchise, however, is a testament to the food’s popularity that has overwhelmed the United States.
Pho Hoa is actually a native of San Jose, California. Founded in 1984, the chain now has 40 locations in the North American region alone and 35 locations spread across other countries. This number is continually growing, with 4 more locations in the pipeline for North America. Much of Pho Hoa’s success can be traced back to the thriving Asian communities in the West, but the dish is also continually growing even in non-Asian areas. And with the advent of commercially sold instant packs, there is no doubt that it will become even more famous.
In the early days of its existence in America, the dish was only found in Vietnamese restaurants and stores. Today, it can also be enjoyed in fusion-style specialty restaurants, and not only in the immediate vicinity of a Vietnamese community, but also in places never seen before, such as large shopping malls and even Las Vegas. Many stores are already offering takeout options. So, in the near future, it is not too far-fetched to imagine drive-thru and home delivery as well. In fact, this beloved noodle dish has come a long way in the great US of A.
