Newly opened Pho Viet Nam adds to East Valley’s impressive list of Vietnamese restaurants

Some of Arizona’s best Vietnamese food is found in the East Valley. Think Saigon Pho, Pho Chandler, Pho Nhat, Khai Hoan, Pho Van, unPhogettable, Pho Thuan Thanh…

So when my friends who grew up in that country and have worked in the restaurant business for years tell me there’s a brand-new place with some of the best Vietnamese food they’ve ever found here, I pay attention.

The newcomer is Pho Viet Nam, and it took over the former Devil’s Kitchen space next to Hoosiers Cafe on Warner, just west of Arizona Avenue, in Chandler last week.

From what little information I could get out of the manager, it’s all family recipes and their first foray into the food business.

They haven’t had time to make many physical changes – Devil’s Kitchen signage is still on the building and windows – but it looks like a hit. Both times I visited this week, once in the middle of the afternoon, the place was packed.

Pho, the noodle soup that’s Vietnam’s national comfort food, comes in seven varieties, all made with beef broth, the majority with tender strips of filet mignon along with the usual fresh vegetables and herbs.

Prices range from $5.95 for pho thit ga (with chicken breast) to $6.95 for Pho VN (with filet mignon, meatballs, briskets, and tendons).

Eight of the 10 non-pho dishes involving some combination of pork – shredded, grilled, steamed or BBQ – with broken rice. Prices are just $6.50-$8.95.

I couldn’t find a website or Facebook page, but Pho Viet Nam is open for lunch and dinner daily.