Like tacos and barbecue, Houston can have no shortage of pho destinations, and a new concept where guests may build-their-own-bowls is a welcome addition. Pho Prime, a fast-casual Vietnamese restaurant from husband-and-wife team Kiet and Julie Duong, has opened in the Woodlands, with locations set to debut in the Galleria-area in February and Pearland in March.
No strangers to the scene, the couple has operated local chain, Crawfish Cafe, in Houston for the past 15 years. With Pho Prime, they drew inspiration from their roots to create an interactive dining experience that showcases the flavors of traditional Vietnamese cuisine. A major draw of the restaurant is its build-your-own pho experience, in which guests are given the option to fully customize their bowls.
Beginning with a choice of beef, chicken, or vegan broth – made fresh daily from the Duong’s house recipe – guests can opt for rice noodles or bean sprouts; proteins like beef meatballs, chicken, shrimp, tendon, and fried tofu; and vegetables like shiitake mushrooms, basil, and bok choy to build their dream bowl.
Alternatively, menu items like the oxtail pho ($22), which boasts a double serving of oxtail, and the pho supreme ($28), which combines a trio of oxtail, beef rib, and bone marrow can be customized to be made just the way the customer likes it.
The pho fun spans beyond bowls. With Pho Prime’s pho dip sandwich ($12), guests can enjoy all of the tasty flavors of a bowl of pho in a handheld. The hearty sandwich packs fatty brisket, basil, cilantro, and onion onto a baked baguette slathered with bone marrow butter spread, spicy aioli, and a drizzle of hoisin sauce. The pièce de résistance is a side of beef broth for dunking the sandwich in.
While pho is naturally the main draw, Pho Prime’s menu touts a full menu of Vietnamese comfort eats, including spring rolls and egg rolls ($8), beef and pork banh mi ($9), loaded vermicelli bowls ($12), and beef stews ($15). Its beverage menu is equally robust, ranging from coconut water and a variety of flavored teas to Vietnamese iced coffee and soy milk.
As the Galleria and Pearland locations gear up for their February and March openings, respectively, Houstonians can build-their-own-pho at Pho Prime’s Metropark Square location in the Woodlands, which is now open for lunch and dinner, daily.
Pho Prime, 8850 Metropark Dr., Ste. 300, Shenandoah, phoprime.com
