the PHO — ‘Pho Now, Boba Later’ in Apple Valley

Kathy Young, Victorville Daily Press
·4 min read
the PHO in Apple Valley.
the PHO in Apple Valley.

Whether you like Asian food for its appetizers, bowls, plates, stir-fries, delicious drinks, or any combinations thereof, the PHO in Apple Valley should be your next go-to restaurant.

Formerly Pho Belwood, the PHO opened last year and is destined to become a favorite of those who enjoy delicious, healthy meals that are diet-friendly — vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, or paleo — because dishes can be made to order. As if that weren’t enough, these dishes are served with flair and a top goal aimed at excellent customer service.

Owner Wannie Ly has worked in the restaurant industry for years and currently manages Restaurant Supply in Pomona. She worked in different food service venues to learn everything about bringing the best in food and service to your table.

At the PHO, the dishes are traditional Asian fusion with a few tasty new items for you to try.

To Ly, good food and good service make the perfect combination. Ly and her staff have made attention to detail their top priority. Serving food at the PHO is as important as the food itself.

We think you will agree.

Garlic noodles with prawns, ssam bap, spare rib pho and a virgin mango mojito from the PHO in Apple Valley.
Garlic noodles with prawns, ssam bap, spare rib pho and a virgin mango mojito from the PHO in Apple Valley.

‘the MENU’ …

Appetizers are a great way to start the meal, and the PHO has wonderful choices. Eggrolls — regular, veggie — or springrolls (rice paper filled with shrimp, meat or tofu with lettuce and vermicelli, served with special sauce with peanuts) make a tasty first dish.

Try edamame or spicy garlic edamame as well or order the Vietnamese sandwich. If you love American appetizers served with an Asian touch, try House of Wings. Prices range from $5 to $10.

Signature dishes from the PHO include garlic noodles with prawns, ssam bap and spare rib pho.
Signature dishes from the PHO include garlic noodles with prawns, ssam bap and spare rib pho.

… the BOWLS

Are you are a purist when it comes to your food? Check out the O.G. Bowl, a purist’s perfect first choice. It contains original pho ingredients — protein, broth, noodles and garnish. You can add more protein, noodles or vegetables, if you wish, for a small extra charge. Other bowls include chicken, green-plus-tofu — vegetarian, in other words; grilled meat, oxtail, rib-eye, seafood, shrimp or short ribs. Prices range from $12 to $18.

A prawn from the garlic noodles from the PHO in Apple Valley.
A prawn from the garlic noodles from the PHO in Apple Valley.

… the PLATES

Grilled or stir-fry plates at the PHO are also customizable. Options depend on the plate you select. Prices range from $10 to $18.

Garlic noodles with prawns, foreground, is one of the signature dishes from the PHO.
Garlic noodles with prawns, foreground, is one of the signature dishes from the PHO.

… the STIR-FRY

Once again many choices ranging from vegetarian to seafood, shrimp, beef, chicken or combo options that you can personalize. Prices range from $13 to $21.

… the TWIST

Twists start with Dodging Steak, which gets its name from when the home cook had to move to avoid splatters of hot oil as the steak hits the skillet. Served with eggs, Dodging Steak is considered a breakfast dish in Vietnam.

Garlic noodles with prawns are flavorful, combining textures and seasonings to make a wonderful meal. Several fried rice dishes served with short ribs or oxtail are available, too.

A fun dish is ssam bap, traditionally a lettuce wrap with rice. Perfect for hot summer weather, ssam bap at the PHO is served with jackfruit salsa, pink sauce and your choice of protein. If you are a jackfruit salsa fan, try wonton chips at the PHO. Prices range from $5 to $18.

This is beef spare ribs pho soup from the PHO in Apple Valley.
This is beef spare ribs pho soup from the PHO in Apple Valley.

… SIDES

Chow mein, fried rice, white rice, plain broth or plain broth with noodles, steamed or stir-fry greens, two fried eggs, or vermicelli with veggies make for a quick meal at the PHO. Prices range from $2 to $9.

A virgin mango mojito from the PHO.
A virgin mango mojito from the PHO.

… DRINKS

A full range of hot and cold drinks — teas, coffees, milk, smoothies in various flavors with “toppings” such as boba or popping pearls; milk tea frappes, virgin mojitos — are made fresh for you, and if you dine in, you can upgrade any drink to Jug size.

Making your selections

We would advise you to check out toasttab.com/thepho, the online ordering website for the PHO, which makes customizing your order very easy. Click on the items and the order form with options and pricing appears.

When you go

the PHO is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily 

Bottom line

the PHO, 21520 Bear Valley Road, #E, Apple Valley, CA 92308. 760-503-7009. Online ordering is available on toasttab.com. Gift cards are available. You can dine in or take out or have the PHO delivered to your home or office through DoorDash, Grubhub or Uber Eats.

Dining Around

If you would like to have your restaurant profiled in Dining Around, please contact Kathy Young at the Daily Press by email to kyoung3@gannett.com or by text, 760-953-8682.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: the PHO is an Asian eatery where service is as important as the food