Forest Hills Connection || News and Life in Our DC Neighborhood

Covering Forest Hills, Van Ness, North Cleveland Park and Wakefield

  • About Us
    • About Forest Hills Connection
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Donate & Subscribe
  • Classifieds
  • News
    • ANC 3F
    • Business
      • Business in Brief
      • Out to Eat
      • Shop & Eat Local
    • Getting Around
    • Main Street
    • Neighborhood in the News
    • Opinion
    • Parks and Streams
    • Real Estate
    • UDC
  • Style
    • Food
    • History
    • Meet the Neighbors
    • Neighbors Recommend
    • Services
    • Things To Do
  • Home Front
    • High-Rise Life
    • In the Garden
    • In the Kitchen
  • Backyard Nature
    • Local Wildlife
    • Wildlife Photos
  • Kids & Pets
    • At School
    • At Play
    • Kids Write
    • Pets
  • Calendar

Forest Hills Gets Its Own Bowl Of Pho 14

February 7, 2013 by FHC

by Brent Lee

Pho 14's soon-to-be new location, at 4201 Connecticut.

Pho 14’s newest location, at 4201 Connecticut.

All local pho connoisseurs know that in the DC metro area, Eden Center in Falls Church is the place to head for the best form of this tasty noodle soup dish. But for those of us living in Forest Hills with a winter craving for a body-warming bowl of this Vietnamese staple, the trek out to the Virginia suburbs seems as far away as Ho Chi Minh City.

Thanks to the Hoang family; brothers Tim and Tommy, sister Tram and most importantly, thanks to their mom, who provided all of the family recipes, we now have to venture no further than Connecticut and Van Ness.

SAMSUNGOn Presidents Day, the Hoang’s are set to open their latest incarnation of Pho 14 at 4201 Connecticut Ave., following in the footsteps of the ones in Columbia Heights (opened in April 2009) and Adams Morgan (opened 12/12/12). The menu at this Van Ness branch will be essentially the same as the ones at the other two. In fact, the very same kitchen staff will be preparing the food, at least initially. So in addition to pho, they will be serving spring rolls wrapped in rice paper and filled with shrimp and pork; the savory Vietnamese crepe stuffed with shrimp, bean sprouts, green onions, lettuce, cucumbers and either pork or chicken; as well as various rice, egg and vermicelli noodle dishes.

For a fast and easy lunch-to-go or takeout dinner for one, I often get the combination bánh mí sandwich. As a result of the French colonial influence, the baguette sandwiches at Pho 14 contain homemade paté and homemade mayonnaise and they are garnished with cilantro, jalapeno peppers, along with pickled radish and carrots.

SAMSUNGBut the main reason I plan to be a regular at Pho 14 Van Ness is for the pho. Like the “pot-au-feu” from which “pho” (pronounced “fuh”) has been theorized to have originated, the rich and complex broth that makes up this hearty soup is slow-cooked for hours – 16 to be precise – according to Tommy Hoang. The marrow-rich beef bones infuse that rich flavor along with the delicate spices of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, ginger and onions. Topped off with cilantro, bean sprouts, fresh jalapenos, sprigs of Thai basil and a squeeze of the fresh lime wedges, this will be the perfect meal to get me through the remaining cold months of winter.

Pho 14 Van Ness plans to be open daily and to deliver to the local area. I can’t wait!

Advertisement

Forest Hills Connection is produced by volunteers, and supported by you. We appreciate your support – financial and otherwise. Here’s how to donate.

Filed Under: Archive Spotlight, Food, News, Things To Do

Comments

  1. Mary Beth Ray says

    February 7, 2013 at 3:57 pm

    Welcome to Van Ness, Pho 14! We are looking forward to having you in the neighborhood!

About Forest Hills Connection

  • Who we are
  • How to advertise
  • How to donate
  • How to submit a story idea
  • Contact us
Tweets by foresthillsnews

Subscribe to Our Blog

Receive an email alert whenever we publish a new article.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Arrives in your inbox around mid-month.


Newsletter Archive         

Connect With Us!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on RSS

Local Links

  • Schools, Services and More
  • Restaurants

Latest Comments

  • Pat Kasdan on Murch “Blue and Gold” EXCLUSIVE: Teachers share their embarrassing grade school moments
  • Green Eyeshades on DDOT to present Connecticut Ave. bike lane concepts at June 28 and 29 public meetings
  • Christine on Hearst Pool, DPR’s first outdoor swimming pool in Ward 3, is open
  • Jack Koczela on School updates: Signs of change at Jackson-Reed High include changing the signs
  • Barbara Alk Berman on School updates: Signs of change at Jackson-Reed High include changing the signs

Archives

About Forest Hills Connection | FHC + VNMS | Who We Are | Contributors
Submissions Policy | Contact | Advertise | Donate
© Forest Hills Connection | Site by: VanStudios
 

Loading Comments...