| Overall (based on 1 ratings) |  |
| Broth (flavor, fragrance, clarity) |  |
| Noodles (texture, clumpiness) | |
| Meat (tenderness, quality) |  |
| Vegetables (variety, freshness) | |
Tom
Pho is becoming more of a reality in Bloomington these days, which is great to see. Red Chopstick is a terrific place for sushi, and as a self-acclaimed "pan asian" restaurant, they also have pho, pad thai, bi bim bap, and other traditional tasty asian dishes.
The restaurant itself is elegant and simple. The owners renovated an old sandwich shop and gave the place a modern, clean, inviting feel. There appears to be a strong Korean influence in the decor and the menu, which always bodes well since Korea is a true food-loving culture.
They serve three types of pho: the classic raw beef pho, a combination raw-and-cooked beef pho, and a shrimp pho.
Raw beef pho made with the proper cuts of meat is hard to find in Indiana. Most restaurants use cuts that are too fatty and gristly, which don't melt in your mouth like they should. However, Red Chopsticks is an exception. The beef is paper-thin, rare, and devoid of fat. There is surprisingly a lot of it in the soup as well, which makes for 7.50 well spent.
The noodles are a bit long, but other than that, they are cooked perfectly and would pass the test of any pho-lover. The proper veggies are served on the side: bean sprouts, basil, jalapeño, and lime. Although they sparse, they are very fresh. Sauces are served in ramekins rather than in bottles, but both the chili and plum sauces are the mainstream brands that we are all used to.
The only disappointing element of the pho is the broth, which is watery and a little bland. However, this is one scenario where the quality and flavor of the meat is so high that you almost forget about the broth.
Red Chopstick isn't perfect for pho, but it is another building block towards pho perfection in Bloomington. Mandalay, across town, is still head and shoulders above in terms of broth and veggies, but if you crave your rare pho beef at a good price (and perhaps a spicy asparagus roll or kimchi on the side) this place more than gets the job done.
