Thursday, Nov. 08, 2007

Yummie Pho!

When you cannot say the name, it means two things: It's foreign and it's going to taste delicious.

Yummie Pho -- pronounced "yummy fuh" -- is a vibrant color on a dull palatte, much as a fresh breeze in a stuffy room.

Opened in 2006, husband/wife team Tom Hoang and Theresa Tran are trying to open the eyes of Tri-Cities to Vietnamese cuisine.

Due to the heavy French influence, Vietnamese cuisine is quite similar to French cuisine. Visitors may be surprised to find quail on the menu, as well as other non-Vietnamese type of entrées.

Another delightful surprise is the wine list at Yummie Pho.

Hoang serves only wines from the Columbia Valley, featuring more than 20 local wines. His support of the state's wine industry is especially remarkable considering the size of Yummie Pho — not even 20 tables.

Hoang believes it's important for each local business to support each other; it's what helps smaller business grow.

Pairing his food with wine gives the restaurant an edge, elevating them beyond the classification of an "Asian restaurant."

Hoang and his culinary team taste each wine they sell, determining if they think it will be popular. However, they do not sell any wine they would not drink themselves.

Of their many menu selections, they offer several kinds of pho, which was traditionally made by poor families in big batches. Pho is a relatively simple soup, consisting of meat, noodles and vegetables. However, it has become a staple in most Vietnamese's diets because of its great taste and ability to fill the gaps.

These days, pho is hardly foreign. It has been served in many small Asian stores, and more and more restaurants are popping up and specifically serving the poor-man's dish. Today, people will find different flavors and ingredients, such as shrimp and scallops.

With a taste for flair, their appetizers and drinks are not just great eye-candy, but terrific stimulators for the taste buds as well.

A must-order item on their menu is a Taiwanese drink called Bubble Tea (also known as Boba Tea). Available in a variety of flavors, the sugary drink is served with either tapioca balls or lychee pieces. If you want show people what some good Gewurztraminers taste like, have them try the lychee Boba Tea.

Keeping the menu fresh, Hoang frequently travels to the Puget Sound and picks up different items. One time, he brought back large King crabs and sold them as a special for the weekend.

Another dimension that Hoang wants to tap into is the Tri-City night life. Traveling to the west side to meet up with friends, he knows people want to stay out late, drink, and then find somewhere to eat. Hoang is toying with the idea of opening another store in an undisclosed location where he could extend the hours for those night owls who appreciate good food.

While several places already serve pho or bubble teas, such as Columbia Oriental Market and Woo's Teriyaki, Hoang's is the first pho restaurant to open in the Tri-Cities and he wants people to know that pho is not the only thing they serve.

All in all, Yummie Pho is a unique attribute to the Tri-Cities that thinks outside of the box and has a lot to offer. Although Yummie Pho may be small, its reputation is growing.

7520 West Clearwater Suite B
Kennewick, WA 99336

(509)783-1273

Monday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sundays: Noon - 7 p.m.