Classic dishes from longtime Los Angeles restaurants remain a welcome sight, especially from a place like Pho 87. Open since 1987, the Chinatown staple serves traditional Southern Vietnamese dishes in a minimalist dining room with remarkable consistency
that keeps it among Los Angeles’s favorite icons. It endures as one of the region’s best destinations to slurp rice noodles submerged in deeply rich phở broth, sip condensed milk–lightened coffee, and eat refreshingly crisp spring rolls in rice paper. Though many head to Pho 87 for its namesake dish, the menu features nearly 60 items. Don’t miss the imperial egg rolls, more commonly known as chả giò, stuffed with wood ear mushrooms, pork, and glass noodles, and accompanied by a bowl of savory-sweet sauce of chilis, sugar, vinegar, and fish sauce. If you visit Pho 87 for its phở, you will find no less than 26 different types. If you need extra broth, beef balls, or additional jalapeño, onions, cilantro, mint, lime, or Thai basil, the team happily brings some to the table for more personal customization.
What to order
- Pho 87 is known for its clear, light broth. (On my last visit, I saw multiple customers approach the counter only to depart moments later with a quart of broth for later eating.) Most team members recommend the specialty 87 rice noodle with beef combination, lean chicken, or charbroiled pork. My personal decades-old favorite is the number six (phở tái nạm gầu) with rare, cooked beef and fatty brisket. The latter is delightfully chewy in the best way.
- No visit to Pho 87 will feel complete without vermicelli or bun noodles. Bún tôm thịt nướng remains especially refreshing in warmer months with a cool rice noodle base (bún), lettuce, charbroiled pork, shrimp, shredded lettuce, daikon radish, crushed peanuts, fried shallots, long slices of cucumber and carrots, and sliced egg rolls. Douse it with the vinegary, sugary nước chấm sauce, perform a strong stir, and revel in the contrasts of fresh lettuce, crisp rolls, and bright sauce.
- Fresh rice paper rolls are always a must. Pho 87 is where I go for the vegetarian tofu gỏi cuốn served cold with a side of peanut sauce.
- Order Vietnamese coffee or fresh lemonade every visit (or both, if you’re feeling extra thirsty).
The vibe
Peek inside the indoor fish pond at the entrance, just below multiple television sets. If the Dodgers or a local team is playing, they will have it on while you eat. The restaurant’s walls are lined with kitschy vintage art and a jersey of Major League Baseball (and former Dodger) player Ryu Hyun-jin. Note that Pho 87 gets busy during Dodger games. Baseball fans typically sit for less than 30 to 45 minutes and clear out long before the first pitch.
Insider tip
Chinatown parking is notoriously challenging. Though there is a small lot in the rear, drive slightly north of Pho 87 on North Broadway to locate a good amount of metered and free parking.
