Oak Park Boys Eat Pho

There was a small period where a quite interesting restaurant occupied the Northwest corner of North and Oak Park Avenues, but the Oak Park Boys* Eating Society dawdled. We never had our meal there. So, we must act on it's latest incarnation, a Vietnamese restaurant, Cafe Hoang.

Now, there is some debate over whether this is the best pho close to zip code 60302, but the price of an ice coffee at an unnamed Oak Park place has limited my options. This is it.

And we're having dinner together on Monday May 15 at 7 PM

Cafe Hoang
6818 W North Ave
Chicago, IL
http://www.cafehoang.com/

In spirit only, girls welcome

Hope to make it but might be a gametime call.

Saigon Pho Vietnamese iced coffee has been consistently excellent for me across the two locations with the fancy stirrer and straw, intense coffee flavor (I do think powder/instant is involved, which is fine and consistent with other favorite places), and righteous sweetness, but it is pricey, agreed.

I recently discovered that Red Mango on Lake has a very similar 16oz iced coffee for $2.28 including tax - tastes partly instant, they add real cream and sugar, does the trick for me, a big notch up from Dunkin'/McD/BK/Chick-fil-A which all also have creamy oversweet iced coffee on offer. Starbucks is too inconsistent with cold brew (availability and strength) for me to enjoy it. The nitro and the spiced holiday are nice when they have them.

Addis Cafe has strong iced coffee as well. They actually told me iced coffee was invented in Ethiopia and has a ceremonial angle with a specific name I have not been able to find again online (I haven't seen the person who was excited I ordered cold coffee in the past few visits). I don't love the perpetual waffle burnt-butter miasma in there or would frequent more often.

I'm a strong tentative. I really want to make it but it might have to be game time, as well.

I'm with the guys above - I'll say I'm 95% barring any hiccups with a new gig I should be starting this week, but 7 should be doable.

Screw it - I'm in!

Just a reminder that this is tonight. Hope to see ya there (don't have to be a boy).

Do we know if it's BYO or if they have a liquor or either/both?

I'll be there (not sure about BYO). See you tonight!

I'm sorry I neglected to place this on the side bar, so I'm posting here to keep it near the top of Active Topics in case anyone else missed it and wants to attend. Next time, I won't miss it.

Have fun!

=R=

In.

If they are BYOB, I'd like to bring a bottle of mezcal I brought back from recent trip to Oaxaca. All we'd need from the restaurant is little cups (like the tea cups you'd find in a Chinese restaurant, which I'm guessing they have).

Vital Information wrote:Just a reminder that this is tonight. Hope to see ya there (don't have to be a boy).

I'll be there. See you at 7.

Argh. Looks like an unexpected night run to the Brickyard is in store for me this evening and I likely won't be able to make it... that stuff from Oaxaca sounds super interesting!!

Looks like I can join the group--see you there.

--Matt

I missed this post, I would love to have some pho!

This was such good company, for those watching and who were at the table. Thanks to VI for organizing and to David for the mezcal and stories. I thought the food was consistent with their Chinatown location which I frequent (which is, fresh and tasty) and liked the iced coffee prep I had particularly. The clay pot chicken preps were strong - had not had from Hoang before, might try with catfish on next visit. Boodle fight at Lola Tining's or special dinner at Hanbun next, perhaps?

Great time last night! Second the thanks to Hammond for the mescal and to Santander for the excellent recommendation on the beef salad.