#88: Pho Royal

Date Visited: 11 February 2010

Meal: Dinner

Diners: 2 - Me & Wendy

Experience: Pho Royal has been open for about three months in Leesburg, but I only learned of it this week when I saw an ad for it in the Feb-Mar 2010 issue of Clipper Magazine. With all the snow and cold weather, a nice hot spicy bowl of Pho was sounding real good. Pho Royal is located in the relatively new Fort Evans Plaza II shopping center (along with CiCi's, reviewed 28 December 2008). There are two Pho Royal locations, the new one here in Leesburg, and the original one in Sterling. Pho Royal now competes with Xuan Saigon (reviewed 25 May 2008), as our second Pho restaurant in Leesburg. It's great to have these choices!

On this visit, (early Thursday afternoon, after our blizzard the day before, with mounds of snow all over the parking lot) we were surprised to find a regular stream of customers. It appears that Pho Royal has already established a loyal following at this new location. For our appetizer, we got the #A1 Cha Gio (Crispy Spring Rolls), which were indeed crispy, not greasy, and very good. For entrees, I got the #1 Pho Tai ("Pho with thinly sliced eye round steak"), which was recommended for "beginners or health conscious individuals"). Wendy got the #6 Pho Tai Nam ("Pho with thinly sliced eye round steak and flank"), which was recommended for those who want to try something new "with beef cuts that have slight fat covering that makes them tastier." Well, both were excellent, with delicious broth, and the usual accompaniments of Thai basil, bean sprouts, Jalapeno peppers, and lime. There was also an assortment of sauces at the table, including Soy, Fish, Plum, and Sriracha chili sauce (my favorite!) I spiced up mine with the Jalapenos and some Sriracha to the point of perfect heat, just short of pain. We both got the small size bowls and were left very full and satisfied. For drinks, Wendy had the #50 Tra Nong (Hot Tea), which was a mysterious passion-fruit-like variety. I had a #34 Cafe Sua Da ("Ice French Expresso with condensed milk") which was an excellent companion to my Pho.

The service was excellent; there were three different people who showed up at our table at various times to deliver the food, keep our water glasses filled, and clear away used dishes. All were very pleasant and courteous. The brightly lit yet warm atmosphere enhanced our experience significantly. There are several good reviews on Yelp that confirm our good experience. Curiously, the Pho Royal web site URL printed on the menu does not seem to be in operation yet, but I'm including it below in hopes that it will be set up soon.

Overall, our experience at Pho Royal was great, and we encourage you to visit too. At this point, I'd still give a slight edge to Xuan Saigon, as being a little more comfortable and Vietnamese home-style.

Location: 542 Fort Evans Rd. NE, Leesburg VA 20176, 703-779-1774

Web site: http://phoroyalrestaurants.com/

Total bill: $19.74 (after 15% discount coupon) + $6.00 tip = $25.74