C U I S I N E
A VIETNAMESE
GOURMET FIND
By Margaret Word Burnside and Aaron R. Fodiman
With over 125 different offerings, everyone will find a Vietnamese dish
THIS COMFORTABLY WARM AND
friendly restaurant that overlooks
the intersection of West Hillsborough
Avenue and Memorial Highway in Tampa
is a must for anyone who enjoys the
experience of ethnic cuisine at its best.
With over 125 traditional Vietnamese
dishes, considered one of the healthiest
cuisines in the world, most dishes rely on
fresh ingredients with distinctive flavors.
Many of their recipes use lemongrass,
ginger, mint, coriander, cinnamon, chilis,
lime or basil, which reflect the French
influence that came about during their
colonial rule of the country.
In addition to “Pho,” the traditional
noodle soups that are available in a
multitude of varieties, Pho Quyen serves
a host of other unique dishes that reflect
the complexity of their recipes. Dishes
such as Stuffed Baby Squid With Pork
and Shrimp or Fried Frog Legs stir-fried
in spicy lemongrass, curry coconut cream
sauce, or simply deep fried, are treats you
Everything is prepared to order and,
therefore, allows you to modify any of
the ingredients and the spiciness of any
dish to suit your taste. This is authentic
food that has not been “Americanized.”
Everything here, including specialty
drinks, is true to the owners’ homeland.
There is full liquor bar, and this
restaurant’s service is outstanding, as
each server is prepared to help you enjoy
your meal by making suggestions and
explaining any dish about which you
may have a question. Treat yourself and
your family and friends to the pleasures
of Vietnamese dining. You will all be
happy you did.
9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Pho Quyen Cuisine is
located at 8404 West Hillsborough Avenue
(at the intersection of Memorial Highway)
in Tampa, (813) 885-9424.
Pho Quyen Cuisine
Photography by Noraa
to suit their taste at Pho Quyen.
won’t find anywhere else. We found a
Catfish Filet to be a unique presentation,
as we did the Stir-Fried Mussels. The only
chore here is to decide what to order.
To begin, there are fresh rolls in rice
paper that can be prepared to your
specifications, as well as a variety of salads.
However, soups seem to rule the menu.
All of these are large servings that are
meant to be shared. Many are distinctive,
due to the type of noodle used, as well as
the choice of beef, chicken, pork, mixed
vegetables or seafood you select. Likewise,
Fried Rice is an art here with a
multitude of choices. Stir fries use crispy
egg noodles, rice noodles, vermicelli, or
several others, which each has its own
distinctive taste and texture. The one
thing that the dishes here have in common
is their reasonable prices. You can try a
variety of different dishes for a very small
sum. The servings are large and meant
to be shared, as that is the traditional
Vietnamese dining style.
192 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE MARCH/APRIL 2015