Battle 2, Khai Hoan vs Pho Nhat (WuDeng Review)
Phở-enix Scorecard: Khai Hoan vs Pho Nhat
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The Pho
At both Khai Hoan and Pho Nhat, I ordered the Pho Tai Nam (with lean rare steak and well-done flank). Both restaurants did offer some other varieties that featured other meats (e.g., tendon, tripe, and meatballs predominantly), but none offered versions with brisket or crunchy flank. Thus, this battle features two equally-equipped soups.
Broth
The Khai Hoan pho broth was rather light, a little subtle, but still full of flavors. It featured the beefy oils one expects from a pho broth, but it was neither too oily or salty. I could taste not only the beef and meat fats but also the traditional spices used in the pho broth. Moreover, the broth was light and open enough to pick up the flavors of the lime, fresh herbs, and jalapeno slices.
The Pho Nhat broth was a thin broth as well. However, this broth was noticeably oily and salty. In general, it lacked the subtlety and nuance of the Khai Hoan broth. The lack of subtlety prohibited this broth from picking up the additional flavors. Instead, as the meat continued to cook in the soup, it tasted a little more fatty and salty.
Noodle
Khai Hoan offered a pleasant balance of noodle, meat, and broth. The noodle was a well-prepared,traditional rice noodle. It was cooked to a nice consistency, and did not become soggy in the hot soup.
Pho Nhat offered a substantial amount of rice noodle. Of the four restaurants we have reviewed, Pho Nhat placed the most noodle per other broth/meat in their pho than any of the other places put into their soups. The noodle was well-cooked, and maintained a nice consistency in the soup. It did perhaps become a little soggy toward the end of the bowl.
In general, both Khai Hoan and Pho Nhat place a high amount of noodle, meat, and other solids in their bowls of soup. Khai Hoan offers a better balance of the noodles and meat than Pho Nhat, which places more noodle than meat in their soup.
Note: Khai Hoan serves a smaller bowl of soup than the other restaurants we have reviewed. However, that bowl is filled with noodles, meats, veggies, and herbs. There is still plenty of broth (although perhaps less than some other establishments in the competition).
Meats
At Khai Hoan, the lean rare steak and well-done flank were high quality meats that were prepared well for pho placement. I could both see and taste the difference between the two meats easily. In addition, Khai Hoan offered a fair amount of both meats in the soup.
At Pho Nhat, the rare steak and flank were rather standard. In addition, I felt that the meats (particularly the steak) were cooked a little too much before being placed in the broth. Finally, Pho Nhat placed less meat than noodle in their pho. I felt that Khai Hoan's meats were superior to Pho Nhats.
Herbs and Veg
Khai Hoan served a single plate of fresh herbs and vegetable to my fellow Pho-natic and I. It included sprigs of fresh thai basil, a long-leafed mint, bean sprout, jalapeno, and lime. I appreciated the inclusion of the mint, as I prefer lots of flavorable herbs in my soup. The lime wedge was also large and fresh. Finally, I also appreciated that Khai Hoan placed fresh green onion in the soup.
Pho Nhat also served a single plate of fresh herbs and vegetable to my fellow Pho-natic and I. The plate held Thai basil, cilantro, bean sprout, jalapeno, and lime. The herbs were fresh and complimented the soup well.
In this category, the slight edge goes to Khai Hoan. This restaurant provided a fresh mint and green onion to enhance the soup's flavor.
Service and Ambiance
Both Khai Hoan and Pho Nhat are small vietnamese establishments run by local families. Khai Hoan has a friendly, family-run atmosphere. Decoration is pleasant.They offer very fast and efficient service.
Pho Nhat has the appearance of a Vietnamese diner. The decoration is sparse, and the color scheme is basic. The service is very friendly and very efficient.
Final Pho Sco' (1 - 5)
Although I enjoyed both bowls of pho in this round, Khai Hoan's soup was a rather clear winner. Khai Hoan served a soup with a broth that had a better flavor (less salty) that transmitted the flavor of herbs and spices than Pho Nhat's soup. Moreover, its meats were higher quality and it offered more herbs than Pho Nhat.
Khai Hoan 4
Pho Nhat 3
Pho Nhat serves a decent bowl of Pho in the Tempe area, but ....
Khai Hoan Winner Pho Dinner!
vs
The Pho
At both Khai Hoan and Pho Nhat, I ordered the Pho Tai Nam (with lean rare steak and well-done flank). Both restaurants did offer some other varieties that featured other meats (e.g., tendon, tripe, and meatballs predominantly), but none offered versions with brisket or crunchy flank. Thus, this battle features two equally-equipped soups.
Broth
The Khai Hoan pho broth was rather light, a little subtle, but still full of flavors. It featured the beefy oils one expects from a pho broth, but it was neither too oily or salty. I could taste not only the beef and meat fats but also the traditional spices used in the pho broth. Moreover, the broth was light and open enough to pick up the flavors of the lime, fresh herbs, and jalapeno slices.
The Pho Nhat broth was a thin broth as well. However, this broth was noticeably oily and salty. In general, it lacked the subtlety and nuance of the Khai Hoan broth. The lack of subtlety prohibited this broth from picking up the additional flavors. Instead, as the meat continued to cook in the soup, it tasted a little more fatty and salty.
Noodle
Khai Hoan offered a pleasant balance of noodle, meat, and broth. The noodle was a well-prepared,traditional rice noodle. It was cooked to a nice consistency, and did not become soggy in the hot soup.
Pho Nhat offered a substantial amount of rice noodle. Of the four restaurants we have reviewed, Pho Nhat placed the most noodle per other broth/meat in their pho than any of the other places put into their soups. The noodle was well-cooked, and maintained a nice consistency in the soup. It did perhaps become a little soggy toward the end of the bowl.
In general, both Khai Hoan and Pho Nhat place a high amount of noodle, meat, and other solids in their bowls of soup. Khai Hoan offers a better balance of the noodles and meat than Pho Nhat, which places more noodle than meat in their soup.
Note: Khai Hoan serves a smaller bowl of soup than the other restaurants we have reviewed. However, that bowl is filled with noodles, meats, veggies, and herbs. There is still plenty of broth (although perhaps less than some other establishments in the competition).
Meats
At Khai Hoan, the lean rare steak and well-done flank were high quality meats that were prepared well for pho placement. I could both see and taste the difference between the two meats easily. In addition, Khai Hoan offered a fair amount of both meats in the soup.
At Pho Nhat, the rare steak and flank were rather standard. In addition, I felt that the meats (particularly the steak) were cooked a little too much before being placed in the broth. Finally, Pho Nhat placed less meat than noodle in their pho. I felt that Khai Hoan's meats were superior to Pho Nhats.
Herbs and Veg
Khai Hoan served a single plate of fresh herbs and vegetable to my fellow Pho-natic and I. It included sprigs of fresh thai basil, a long-leafed mint, bean sprout, jalapeno, and lime. I appreciated the inclusion of the mint, as I prefer lots of flavorable herbs in my soup. The lime wedge was also large and fresh. Finally, I also appreciated that Khai Hoan placed fresh green onion in the soup.
Pho Nhat also served a single plate of fresh herbs and vegetable to my fellow Pho-natic and I. The plate held Thai basil, cilantro, bean sprout, jalapeno, and lime. The herbs were fresh and complimented the soup well.
In this category, the slight edge goes to Khai Hoan. This restaurant provided a fresh mint and green onion to enhance the soup's flavor.
Service and Ambiance
Both Khai Hoan and Pho Nhat are small vietnamese establishments run by local families. Khai Hoan has a friendly, family-run atmosphere. Decoration is pleasant.They offer very fast and efficient service.
Pho Nhat has the appearance of a Vietnamese diner. The decoration is sparse, and the color scheme is basic. The service is very friendly and very efficient.
Final Pho Sco' (1 - 5)
Although I enjoyed both bowls of pho in this round, Khai Hoan's soup was a rather clear winner. Khai Hoan served a soup with a broth that had a better flavor (less salty) that transmitted the flavor of herbs and spices than Pho Nhat's soup. Moreover, its meats were higher quality and it offered more herbs than Pho Nhat.
Khai Hoan 4
Pho Nhat 3
Pho Nhat serves a decent bowl of Pho in the Tempe area, but ....
Khai Hoan Winner Pho Dinner!
Vegetarian's Corner
Attention all vegetarians ... avoid Khai Hoan! I realize that they have a few veggie options on the menu. I realize that they actually offer a vegetarian pho. Unless you like water with veggies in it, just avoid. Allow your meat eating friends and family to have their own special moments at Khai Hoan.
In general, I would also suggest that vegetarians dine somewhere other than Pho Nhat. I forgot to take note of their veggie options. Nevertheless, it does not strike me as a tested and true, veggie friendly place.
Advice: Vegetarians should send their meat eaters to Khai Hoan!
Advice: Vegetarians should send their meat eaters to Khai Hoan!
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