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We kid you not. This is a genuine post on pho, the beef noodle soup, and not another smart-alecky headline pun post.
Pho restaurants are sprouting up (and closing down) everywhere in a trend reminiscent of Shanghai's bar scene. Luckily for us, it seems like we have one more option smack in the former French Concession.
Last weekend, we checked out Pho Real, the tiny new kid on the block at Fumin Lu which wowed us with its clean white interiors, chic ceiling of hanging overturned baskets and turquoise blue (think Madame Mao's Dowry right across the road and Song Fang Maison de thé) tables even before we enter. Nice touch.
They have barely opened for a week and are offering just set meals (RMB 38 lunch and RMB 88 dinner) during the month-long soft opening period as they tweak their menu and operations. We tried their lunch set which comes with a deep-fried spring roll (or a rice paper roll on request) and a tofu fishcake-like appetizer plus a main. Choose from pho bo (complete with requisite garnishes) and two other rice vermicelli-based dishes. While we are no pho expert, we find it tasty and like how it's wallet friendly. Shanghai pho connoisseurs, do go try it and let us know what you think.
Oh and we promise no more pho puns in our headlines from now on pho real.
Pho Real, No. 166 Fumin Lu, near Julu Lu 富民路166号，近巨鹿路
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I've been longing for a good pho restaurant to open for a while now, a few decent ones have recently closed, I managed to stop by and try out the Pho Real lunch set, I gotta say...it's probably the best pho I've had so far in Shanghai. I'm no pho expert, but when I say it's good, I mean it most closely resembles the pho restaurants from back in the states. Well-priced and I left full and satisfied. They also have the nice vietnamese slow-drip iced coffee with condensed milk. Yum.
The decor is nice also, simple modern, and warm. I definitely recommend checking it out.