Phong Lan Restaurant — Restaurant in Cedar Rapids

First time trying Pho in Cedar Rapids. The kids and I have made a habit of trying Pho everywhere we travel. That has taken us across the nation to some great and unusual places and allowed us to taste some amazing food! Hundreds of bowls of Pho have been consumed as we have sought out the perfect bowl.

Tonight the road brought us here. A great location that is on the quiet side of town and with easy parking. Too often, with the food scene exploding over the last 20 years, the ease and accessibility of a dining experience is not what it used to be as restaurants crave being in the glow and spotlight of the city center. Places such as this restaurant are a treasure not just for the food but also for the natural comfort that a quiet location offers.

On to the meal…

Service was good. We came in during off hours and had our pick of seating. The staff was attentive but allowed us time to peruse the menu, striking the perfect balance!

We started with crab Rangoon which arrived quickly and was pleasantly large in size. Flavors were good with the traditional sweet dipping sauce. Timing could have been a bit better. Before we had more than a bite or two of the Rangoon, our meals were at our table.

The pho was what would have been considered a large 15 years ago. It was refreshing trying not to be faced with a small sink worth of food.

The flavors were good if not a little under developed. The broth specifically could use a bit of development but there was a wide selection of accoutrements for seasoning, including fish sauce.

Overall a great experience. Would happily return and wander through...

A really neat spot for some great Vietnamese food! Had never been here before, and after a long day of travel, stopped here for some dinner around 7PM before the final stretch.

The restaurant was very quiet with a few families eating dinner. The atmosphere was very nice, and we were seated almost immediately by the manager who quickly helped us with some water. We ordered the spring rolls and crag rangoons which were very good. (Note: The spring roll comes with shrimp and beef for my vegetarian friends.) 3 rangoons and 4 spring rolls

Ordered the Pho Tai. 4.2 (sliced beef noodle soup) which was delicious. The soup came with a garnish plate of thai mint, sliced chili peppers, bean sprouts, and lemon. The bean spouts gave a nice crunch, the chilli raised the spice to another level, and the mint and lemon just gave the broth a bit of extra sweet flavor. I also added hoison sauce and Sriracha to my broth (in moderation) at recommendation of the server. A little fish sauce complemented the beef quite nicely.

Food came out very quickly. Chicken lemongrass was delicious. Lots of vegetarian options. Good atmosphere. Prices are ranged from $8-$20 but mostly average at $13. Street parking on the side of the building, some parking closer in a very small lot. Next to a quaint park. Also have take out if you prefer.

Would highly recommend, and I will definitely be...

Under favorable conditions the aquatic plant Lotus (nelumbo nucifera) has been known to germinate from seeds over 1,300 years old. In China and Southeast Asia the lotus is a symbol of longevity. It is in fact the national flower of Vietnam; and Vietnam is where our journey begins. The umami forward noodle and broth soup pho is believed to have originated in north Vietnam and was appropriated in an increasingly southern course after the partition of Korea in 1954. In the aftermath of the Korean War pho was brought by refugees to all corners of the earth (and we can thank our lucky stars). The aptly named Phong Lan (Vietnamese for another flowering plant: the orchid) serves up the finest Vietnamese fares this side of the Mississippi. Pho tai is a personal favorite and comes with thinly sliced rare beef, rice noodles (think Bánh hu tieu not the thicker Bánh canh), bone broth and a wide variety of accoutrements (add the red chili peppers at your own peril). The atmosphere is comfortable and the service extremely friendly and consistent. Nothing helps heal the soul or recover from a night of bacchanalian pursuits better than the rich and electrolyte dense bone broth of a generous bowl of pho and please remember to pronounce the dish “fuh” like “duh” rather than “foe”. You are consuming a soup not...