Satisfy Your Cravings on Pho-ther’s Day

If you’re searching to munch on something healthy and savory, look no further than Pho My Lien at Westridge Shopping Center in Aiea. It serves up a mean pho and other Vietnamese favorites — and just in time for Father’s Day. The establishment has been open for 12 years, but has been at the Aiea location for about 18 months. Not only is the new location convenient for those who come from all edges of the island, but there’s also a lot of free parking available.

Tommy Dang and wife Lien Bui (whom the restaurant is named after) make customers feel at home with their friendly demeanor, and after taking your first sip (or slurp) of pho you’ll feel right at home, too.

According to Dang, Crispy Spring Rolls ($7.50, four pieces), Summer Rolls ($4.95, two pieces) and Green Papaya Salad ($7.50) are among the dishes most preferred by customers.

The Crispy Spring Rolls are stuffed with pork, chicken, shrimp, carrots, long rice and mushrooms, and each roll comes golden brown with the perfect amount of crisp every time you take a bite. And the tangy dipping sauce is a must-have. In fact, it’s so good, double-dipping is understandable.

In the spirit of the season, the Summer Rolls are a refreshing appetizer that makes the hot days bearable. They’re packed with vermicelli, mint leaves, bean sprouts and a meat of your choice: boiled shrimp, shredded pork, barbecue beef, barbecue pork, and barbecue chicken or tofu.

Green Papaya Salad, low in calories and very nutritious, is another great appetizer choice that’s sure to please. Pieces of shrimp are mixed with mint leaves and peanuts sit atop a shredded green papaya bed, and the house salad dressing makes this dish complete.

But what if you can’t choose from among the appetizers? During July, Pho My Lien is offering a great summer special combination. Get two spring rolls, one summer roll and a helping of green papaya salad for only $7.47! It doesn’t get much better than that.

Rice Vermicelli ($8.50, one choice of meat) in a bowl with special fish sauce, is a hearty serving that comes with your choice of meat — two choices for $9.95 or three choices for $11.95. With this dish, you get the cool texture of the vermicelli noodles combined with the hot, savory flavors of the meat.

But don’t worry as Dining Out didn’t forget to report on the Pho ($7.95); we just saved the best for last. On any given day (or evening) the interior of Pho My Lien is filled with little steam clouds that hover over hot bowls of freshly made pho, and the smell of cilantro and mint fill the air. Pho is served with up to five choices: slices of rare steak, well-done beef brisket, beef soft tendon, beef tripe or balls of beef. Pho with chicken or mixed vegetables also is $7.95, and pho served with shrimp and squid runs for $8.95.

With so many choices on the menu and so many different combinations, there’s always something new to discover at Pho My Lien.

Pho My Lien Vietnamese Restaurant

See more articles from: Pho My Lien