Special Combo Pho Cao Dac Biet (Pho with lean rare steak, well-done flank, marble brisket, tendon, tripe, and meat balls) can be found at Pho Cao Restaurant & Bar on Gilbert Drive and Scottsdale Road. (Photo by Ryan Liu)Some people might scoff if you tell them there's good Vietnamese food in Tempe, and upon entering the quaint restaurant of Pho Cao, one might not be expecting to find excellent food here.
The restaurant features a full bar and live music performance at night and has a karaoke set with a wide variety of songs, ready for patrons to perform.
The reason why people might not expect too much from Pho Cao is because it does not have the conventional restaurant decorations and settings, instead featuring bar tops, booths and a few tables and chairs.
The karaoke and live music take place in a large space separated from the dining area. The mood lighting is dim at night, which is most suitable for friends to gather over drinks and food while enjoying the live performances.
While giving people the impression that this restaurant is just another bistro/bar with lousy food, it is more than just a bar. Pho Cao serves delicious and traditional Vietnamese cuisine, as well as a couple of fusion dishes. In terms of food quality, Pho Cao definitely stands a fair chance when compared to other Vietnamese restaurants in the Valley.
Cao’s special fried rice, one of Pho Cao’s popular dishes, consists of meat, sausage, peas, carrots, and shrimps. Pho Cao Restaurant & Bar is located on Gilbert Drive and Scottsdale Road. (Photo by Ryan Liu)Some of its popular dishes include Cao’s special fried rice, Bun Cha Gio Thit Nuong (charbroiled pork and egg roll with vermicelli, lettuce and bean sprouts), and Special Combo Pho Cao Dac Biet (pho with lean rare steak, well-done flank, marble brisket, tendon, tripe and meat balls). By all reasonable measures, these dishes can only be found in Pho Cao, as they are the restaurant’s specials.
Additionally, like any Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Cao serves authentic Vietnamese drip coffee with condensed milk. Coffee lovers and adventurers alike should order the coffee iced and let the ice melt a little before drinking. This will help dilute the drink and make it less sweet, a consequence of its main ingredient: condensed milk.
What makes Pho Cao different from many other Vietnamese restaurants is that it is available for delivery and is open until 1:30 a.m. from Wednesdays to Saturdays. If you are having late night cravings for Vietnamese food, do not hesitate to visit Pho Cao or simply call for delivery or takeout.
All in all, if you wish to pay Pho Cao a visit for dinner, do not expect to be able to have a quiet talk with your company for the night. The restaurant’s live performance and the karaoke get very loud at times, which makes it difficult to talk to the person sitting next to you. Apart from the noise and atmosphere, Pho Cao does serve decent Vietnamese cuisine with a reasonable price.
Details: Address - 710 E. Gilbert Dr., Tempe, AZ, 85281
Phone - 480-967-7617
Hours – Monday: Closed
Tuesday & Sunday: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday to Saturday: 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Reach the reporter at jmoo1@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @moojuliet.
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