| Overall (based on 1 ratings) |  |
| Broth (flavor, fragrance, clarity) | |
| Noodles (texture, clumpiness) |  |
| Meat (tenderness, quality) | |
| Vegetables (variety, freshness) | |
anonymous
I'm new to South Carolina and on the hunt for good Pho. I moved here from Houston where Pho Binh Trailer serves arguably the best Pho in the US, so my standards are high.
I arrived at Saigon Fast Food in mid-afternoon. I was the only customer and the chef/owner was the only employee. While they normally have table service, I just walked up to the counter and asked for Pho Nam Gau. The owner looked at my Occidental face in disbelief. "Nam, I have," he said. "But my customers are mostly American and they won't eat "fat", so no Gau." We shook our heads companionably over the vagaries of our fellow Carolinians, and I ordered the "Combination Beef" Pho.
Their portion was larger than any I've seen in SC. The broth was flavorful -- not the best I've ever had but good. The noodles were a little clumpy but floated free with a few vigorous stirs of my chopsticks. The meat was the usual, including nam, tendon, a little tripe and a few slices of meatball. The nam slices were pre-cooked rather than being cooked by the hot broth. The basil and lime were fresh and plentiful, and all the usual condiments were handy on the table.
I've not found ngo gai or saw-tooth herb in SC, and Saigon Fast Food didn't have it, either. Again, the customers don't want it, so they don't keep it. However, I was VERY pleased to find plastic Chinese-style chopsticks of adequate length. I must admit to a momentary temptation to take the chopsticks with me, but I refrained. (Note to Pho parlors: Bamboo chopsticks are NOT appropriate utensils for Pho -- they are too short for decent leverage, and they get soggy before you can finish your bowl. STOP offering them!)
All in all, I'd give Saigon Fast Food about a 7 on a 10-point scale. Just the fact that they exist at all in this town means whenever I'm in Greenville, I'll try to make a stop.
