Pho Lang Thang

New Restaurant #2: Pho Lang Thang – Bun/Rice Vermicelli Noodles + Chi Goi – $9.50

I got this photo from PLT's facebook page.  Go check it out!

Oh it’s spring and a time where everyone comes out of their holes to socialize after the winter.  Combine that with 2 grad papers, training for the half marathon for the Flying pig in a few weeks and my first time going to paintball and I have no time left…or do I?

Pho Lang Thang is located in Findlay Market and is one of the new restaurants that got voted onto my list.  This place was voted as the #4 best new restaurants in the city, up there with some of the most expensive places like Jean-Robert’s Tabl.  The easiest time to get out to a place in the market for me is on a weekend lunch time.  It turns out that is also the time everyone else in the city gets to Findlay because Pho Lang Thang was packed.  It’s located on the outside of the market on the way from the closest parking lot.  With just 2 of us, we either had to wait 30 minutes or take our food to go and eat it in the actual market building.  We decided to get our food to go, but the server said that their best item, the soup, doesn’t transport well, so I’ll have to try that another time.  Since the weather has gotten warm, I’ve seen them add seating outside, which added like 25 seats at 2 communal tables.  There are also outdoor tables that are communal to the entire market, so don’t worry about sitting inside if it’s a nice day out. 

Bun with the fried spring rolls as the meat.  Very fresh and tasty!

            The menu isn’t very extensive and everything is very affordable.  You can start with not fried spring rolls, cha gio, with an awesome dipping sauce for 3$, or salad rolls with a peanut hoisin dipping sauce.  I didn’t try the second one, but peanut hoisin sounds right up my alley.  Everything is very fresh here and has a vegan option, which my vegetarian friend says is one of the best she’s had!  They also have salads with a homemade red onion vinaigrette.  Their specialty is the pho, or rice noodle soup, which I’ve had at other places, just not this one.  It’s a pho broth with your choice of meats or tofu, onions, scallions, fresh cilantro, bean sprouts, herbs, jalapeno and lime…and I mean they probably walk next door to the farmers market 20 feet away to buy it fresh. 

The tofu sandwich was some of the best tofu I've tried ever. 

I went with the Bun, rice vermicelli noodles, and added lemongrass grilled cha gio, the spring rolls I mentioned above.  This was basically cooked noodles served with all uncooked veggies (do chua, lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumber) and herbs on top served with the dipping sauce you get with the spring rolls.  This is a half cold half hot dish, which is not something we do much in American cooking, so if you have an issue with cold food, this isn’t for you.  My friend and I loved it!  My friend had the banh mi chay which had a marinated, fried tofu, do chua, cucumber and cilantro on a baguette with garlic butter mayo.  I will say that this was one of the best tofus I have ever had!  I really don’t care to cook tofu at home because…well, it tastes like crap when I cook it.  I am always open to eating it at restaurants when someone else gets it and tests it though. 

Pho Lang Thang is one of those awesome, small time places with a huge mid day crowd that closes by dinner so it’s hard to get to for most people.  I do recommend getting out to Findlay to try Pho Lang Thang on a Saturday or Sunday lunch if you aren’t too hung over or busy.  Hahaha.  Have a nice weekend!