Pho 79 - Minneapolis

Pho and the Cha Gio egg rolls are like crack. Each time after I go to a Vietnamese restaurant, I swear it will be the last time I will order these foods. And each time I step into a Vietnamese restaurant, especially a new one, my body tells me its been too long since the last fix. I need a methadone equivalent to detoxify and treat my dependence on these foods.

Its a good thing I ordered both here because in Pho 79 I found another place in the TC to get the fix. As I reflect back on all the Cha Gio I've had in the TC area, my belief is that the ones served here are the best. Each restaurant has their own version and Pho 79 follows that trend of offering something that is different from the competition. In this case, theirs contains cabbage. The skin on these are done deep fried to perfection and the filling is solid but not too dense. The filling is especially heavy with carrots. Shame on me for not taking a photo but I was overcome as the the blood flowed from the brain to another anatomical part...the stomach.

I ordered the Pho 79 ($7.50). It was good in a way that I hadn't experienced before. Usually I cast aside the lime but for this occasion, I squeezed in a few drops. The first spoonful of broth tasted tart. Was it the lime or was it the broth? It was a disappointment because the broth lacked fullness and subtle pow. Yet as I continued, my mind and mouth enjoyed it more with each bite. When I finished, I found myself wanting more. The noodles were done to perfection and the tendon bits so squishy and satisfying. Usually with Pho, by the time I'm nearing completion, I'm satisfied and not wanting anymore. With Pho 79's Pho, the last bites were better than the first.


The meal started with Ha Cao steamed shrimp dumplings. These were very similar to the Chinese Ha Gow but only smaller. They had the wonderful sesame oil infused taste and at $3.95 for 10 pieces, it's a steal compared to the highway robbery the Chinese restaurants charge at dim sum.

I forget what this Combination No. 45 dish is called. I had a few forkfuls. It was decent, nothing extraordinary.












Pho 79
2529 Nicollet Ave
Minneapolis