Pho Show: Vietnamese Noodle Soup in Culver City

Nestled directly across the T intersection were Lindblade meets Sepulveda—just south of Culver Boulevard—is Pho Show, a trendy little restaurant with Vietnamese soups and a few Chinese dishes.  Pho Show is a nice little spot to enjoy some decent food and a great place to stop after a late night out on the town.

So what is pho and how do your pronounce it?

Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup usually served in a clear beef or chicken broth with a side dish of bean sprouts, basil and lime.  This, along with the usual assortment of pepper and oil, Sriracha and a sweet soy-based sauce allows the diner to add extra flavor and texture.  You can get the pho straight up or add options such as brisket, steak, meatballs, shrimp or Tripe.  Pho Show also uses very thin, nicely cooked noodles. 

Pho, as has been drilled into me by my pho-phile friends, does not rhyme with “dough” but rather a long “duh.”  Click here to listen to the pronunciation.

My most recent visit was with a friend who had never tried pho before. She ordered her pho with brisket and veggies, I tried the lobster special and added shrimp. 

As usual, the our bowls of Vietnamese noodle soup were delivered quickly.  My lobster special was filled with lots of lobster pieces along with the extra shrimp I ordered, which Pho Show did not skimp on. I mixed in a generous helping of bean sprouts, sweet sauce, Sriracha, a little red pepper, some basil and a generous squeeze of lime to accentuate the salty savory flavor of the broth. This was good.  

My friend, though, had a small problem, s small bowl problem. Adding the extra veggies brought the small bowl nearly to the brim. Any attempt to doctor the pho would have resulted in messy spills. Unfortunately, the staff was so busy I had a hard time flagging them down. Once I got their attention, they quickly grabbed a large bowl and transfered her pho for her. So note: If you add veggies to a small bowl, ask for it to be served in a large bowl.  Like me, my pho-newbie friend added sauces and sides to her liking and once she found the right balance, the final result was a little happy dance in her chair. Well done, Pho Show. 

Also of note: Pho Show does make a vegetable broth with rice noodles and tofu if you are a vegetarian.  Bowls start at about seven bucks for a small bowl, a little more for a large bowl and my lobster special was right around $12 or $13 dollars.   

Finally, having visited Pho Show before, I can recommend the spring rolls with the very tasty peanut dipping sauce, although we did not order them this time.  I can also happily report they have simplified their menu; this give me hope that like any restaurant worth their salt, Pho Show will continue to improve. 

I’ve been eating pho for just a few scant years—and I am by no means an expert—however, I can tell you Pho Show is pretty good.  Is it the best pho I have had?  No, but it is leaps and bounds better than the worst pho I’ve had.  The broth is missing a certain depth of flavor that that you might get at a great pho place. This is not an indictment, just an observation. I also feel like the service could be a little more attentive. I normally spice up my pho, however, I never know how good the servers will be about keeping my water filled.  

Even with those reserved statements, Pho Show is a nice place to dip into a new soup experience or grab a quick meal.  The interior of the restaurant is nice and they close off their outside patio, so it doesn’t feel like you’re sitting next to one of the busiest streets in all of Culver City.  I highly recommend Pho Show if you are under the weather or it is cold outside, the pho is warm and filling without being heavy.  Finally, Pho Show is perfect when coming back from a late night painting the town red. You gotta love a place that is regularly open until 3 a.m., serves good food and isn’t perceived as a public nuisance.

, 4349 Sepulveda Blvd. Lunch: Mon-Sun Noon-3 and Dinner/Late Night: Mon-Sat 5p-2a and Sun 5p-10p