Pho Number 9

Pho Number 9 opened this week just South of Devon on McCormick across from Home Depot. If that location seems familiar for pho its because one of my favorites Pho 5 Lau, and Steve Dolinsky's pick for best Pho in Chicagoland, is in the same building. The new pho place is on the opposite side of the building going South.

Went for lunch Tuesday, the day 5 Lua is closed, and Number 9 was packed. Lots of parking, nice open room, menu well beyond pho, looks like there will be a deli/takeout section.

How was the food, don't know, walked out after 12 or so minutes only water and a menu, and I was not the only one who walked. Plus the tables around me ranged from bemused to angry at the service. Pho Number 9 missed the ~overstaff at opening~ class when they took Restaurant 101.

Pho 5 Lua, and Nha Hang for that matter, Count me a Fan!



Pho Number 9
6257 McCormick Blvd
Chicago, IL 60659

Pho Nam Lua (aka 5 Lua)
6261 McCormick Blvd
Chicago, IL 60659

Nha Hang
1032 W Argyle St
Chicago, IL 60640

Is there a Pho 5 Lua thread? That place is the goods!

Hope they get things straightened out. As much as I enjoy 5 Lua, I was still looking forward to trying another place as well.

A safer bet would be almost across the street at Hoanh Long at 6148 N. Lincoln Avenue.
It has been there for many years. the room and the service are very pleasant, the Vietnamese cooking is very reliable and consistent, even though not as good as Nha Hang ( my favorite).

Thanks. Went to Hoanh Long fairly often before 5 Lua opened. While I recall enjoying a number of their dishes, the pho always tasted a bit too sweet to me. At 5 Lua, on the other hand, I really enjoy the pho and bun bo hue, but haven't had much success elsewhere on the menu, so I usually stick to the pho.

bw77 wrote:I really enjoy the pho and bo bun hue, but haven't had much success elsewhere on the menu, so I usually stick to the pho.

Agree with Jefe, Pho 5 Lua is the goods, so I started its own thread. bw77, there are a few menu suggestions in the ----> new Pho 5 Lua thread.

Thanks!

G Wiv wrote:How was the food, don't know, walked out after 12 or so minutes only water and a menu, and I was not the only one who walked. Plus the tables around me ranged from bemused to angry at the service.

One week later on a Tuesday, the day Pho 5 Lua is closed, I thought I'd give Pho Number 9 another chance. No such luck, they decided to randomly close on Tuesdays, though all info says 7-days a week 9 - 9.

G Wiv wrote:. . . I thought I'd give Pho Number 9 another chance. No such luck, they decided to randomly close on Tuesdays, though all info says 7-days a week 9 - 9.

Gary, it appears that 9 is not your lucky number.

Thank you, for the update.

=R=

We successfully ate here today. We stopped by 5 Lua at peak lunch and it was packed with a ten minute wait. So we walked over to give 9 a try. I had the No. 9 Special (Pho Dac Biet). The meat was cooked well with the sliced steak arriving slightly pinkish and the tripe was tender and clean tasting. The broth, however, was bland and not very flavorful and I found myself spooning in chili paste, adding fish sauce and even Maggi. I would never resort to this next door. Lemon slices instead of lime. Service was fine. Only a few full tables.

We consoled ourselves with purple yam and mung bean stuffed pastries from the Fillipino bakery across the parking lot. Very fresh and tasty.

ronnie_suburban wrote:Gary, it appears that 9 is not your lucky number.

Pho Number 9 third time the charm, if by charm I mean not a very tasty lunch.

Service was prompt and perfunctory, spring rolls ~not bad~ pho broth insipid, only one type of herb, meatballs studded with gristle, tendon had an odd mushy texture to go along with an odd aroma and the egg noodles, a requested substitution, mushy watery gummy texture that was supremely off-putting.

Every third person, and Pho Number 9 were fairly full for a Tuesday early lunch, was speaking loudly into a cell phone or ear piece but, on the good side, I liked the table chili oil, they bought me extra jalapenos and served limes not lemons with the pho. I paid cash and received, oddly, 18 pennies among my change.