Pho in Atlanta: How to Order Pho and Banh Mi

Pho in Atlanta is a bowl of clear, slow-simmered broth, rice noodles and thin slices of beef or chicken, served with a plate of herbs and a rack of sauces on the table. It is one of the most satisfying lunches in the city, and ordering it well is easy once you know a few terms.

Reading a pho menu, building a banh mi and rating what you eat is the whole craft, and it works at any counter in the metro.

What is in a bowl of pho in Atlanta?

Three parts: the broth, the noodles and the toppings. The broth is simmered for hours with beef bones, charred onion, ginger and spices such as star anise and cinnamon. The noodles are flat rice noodles, soft and slippery. The toppings vary by number on the menu, and they are where you choose your bowl.

A plate of fresh herbs arrives alongside: Thai basil, bean sprouts, lime wedges, sliced chiles and sometimes saw-leaf herb. Tear and add as you like.

Some kitchens also serve other noodle soups that are worth a try. Bun bo hue is a spicy beef and lemongrass soup from central Vietnam, and hu tieu is a clear pork-based noodle soup often served with seafood. Ask the server which soup the cook is proudest of, and order that one next time.

Which cuts should you order for an Atlanta Vietnamese lunch?

Menus often number the bowls. Tai is thin raw beef that cooks in the hot broth. Chin is well-done brisket. Nam is flank, gan is tendon and sach is tripe. A combination bowl gives you several. If you are new, start with tai and chin, or ask for a plain chicken bowl, called pho ga, which is lighter and cleaner in flavor.

Ask for the fat on the side if you want a leaner bowl. Tell the server if you want extra noodles or a small portion.

A bowl is usually generous. If you do not want to finish it, ask for the leftovers in a box, though noodles absorb the broth and soften. Many people keep the broth and noodles separate for the next day and reheat the broth until it is steaming.

How do you season it without spoiling the broth?

Taste first. A good broth needs very little. Then add lime for brightness, chiles for heat and herbs for freshness. Hoisin and chile sauce are for dipping the meat, not for pouring into the whole bowl, though many people add a little.

Keep the noodles under the broth so they stay hot, and eat in sips and slurps. It is a meal made for steam and attention.

Pho is also a cold-weather comfort. On a rainy Atlanta day or when you feel a cold coming, a hot bowl with plenty of lime and chile feels like a remedy, whatever the science says. Many regulars eat pho for breakfast, which is how it is eaten in Vietnam.

Where do you find Decatur pho and other bowls?

Pho sits in many neighborhoods across the metro, and Decatur is one place where it fits a student or neighborhood lunch. The Doraville and Buford Highway area is the best-known stretch for Vietnamese cooking in the region, and the Buford Highway guide covers that corridor in full.

A busy dining room at lunch, with many tables of regulars, is usually a good sign. Look for a short menu, a broth that smells clean and herbs that look fresh. A broth that is cloudy or greasy on top often means a rushed pot, while one that is clear, fragrant and lightly golden is a sign of patient work. Trust your nose before the first spoonful.

What is a good banh mi in Atlanta?

A banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich on a light, crackly baguette. The classic fillings include pork, grilled meat, pate and cold cuts, with pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, cilantro and a smear of mayonnaise or butter. Chile slices add heat, and a splash of soy-based sauce adds salt.

A good banh mi has contrast: crisp bread, soft filling, sharp pickles and fresh herbs. Eat it quickly, since the bread softens. It travels well, which makes it a fine picnic lunch.

How do you rate bowls and sandwiches in the Mosey app?

Mosey is a food app, and a noodle bowl is a good test of its dish ratings. Rate the place with stars, then name the dish: the combination bowl, the chicken bowl, the grilled pork banh mi. Add a tag such as Quick Service or Great Value and a sentence on the broth.

Keep a list called Noodles and sandwiches, with notes on what to order. Invite a friend with the link, and they can add theirs. Follow friends to see what they rate and save.

Where next for Atlanta noodle lovers?

For other dishes, see the Caribbean food guide, the Atlanta town hub and the US food guides.

After your next bowl of pho or banh mi, open the Mosey app, rate the dish by name, add a tag and save the place to a list for your lunch friends.