Pho Xich Lo Elk Grove — Restaurant in Elk Grove Township

Needs some work. Pronounced "Fuh Sit Lo" as I confirmed w/ our waiter. Came in as I just heard they opened for real and tried the namesake pho. While it came out fast, the pho was pretty disappointing.

The broth was overly salty and just didn't have the spices I was looking for, like coriander, clove, cinnamon. Mostly bland salt, which is a real bummer when a bowl is ~$13. Noodles were clumped together at the bottom of the bowl, suggesting they didn't give enough time to separate / soften in a bowl of boiling water. Even worse, the slices of beef were clumped together, suggesting they were pre-cooked instead of just added to the piping hot broth at the very end. Bowl was much too deep instead of being wider and shallower, so ingredients had to sort of be fished out. Further, the depth means more mediocre broth instead of a smaller portion of excellent broth. On this note as well, the plate underneath the bowl is small in that they could barely hold chopsticks / napkins on the edge. On the plus side, fixings (mung bean sprout, Thai basil, jalapeno slice, lime wedge) were all clearly very fresh and aromatic.

Ultimately, I actually walked out still hungry! Not sure if the portioning is being done by eye or with any consistency, but it just didn't seem like a lot of pride was put into the bowl I had. This place could be incredible-- the location could snag all the warehouse/transportation/logistics workers for a quick lunchtime spot, leaving satisfied and with a full meal in their bellies. But when I look at the competition in the area (Pho Day, Asian Noodle House, Pho Ha, House of Pho), Pho Xich Lo needs to step their game up. I say look to Asian Noodle House for how to do it right: unassuming diner-style place with incredibly fast service and relatively cheap bowls of pho. They've been in business for ~15 years now, so they're doing something right over there.

I very desperately want a reliable bowl of pho here in Elk Grove, please...

Met a friend for lunch on a random Thursday. We were hungry for pho, and we picked this place because it had good ratings on Google and was in an ideal location for meeting halfway. The Pho was delicious...I got Pho Thai. My friend ordered Special #2. They gave a TON of meat, noodles, and unlimited "side" items (bean sprouts, Thai basil, jalapeños, lime wedges, etc). It came out piping hot in a giant bowl of super delicious broth. It was heavenly and really hot the spot. While the pho was way above in quality and quantity, the establishment could use some help. They were short-staffed (there was a sign saying they were closing at 3:30 due to staffing issues) and table service was limited. We sat near the big window at the booths, and it was quite cold with a noticeable draft. The soup was really nice to help warm us up, but we had to keep our jackets on to be comfortable. Inside decor is lacking. I liked the nice plants they had, but otherwise it was pretty bare-bones. This would be my go-to for take out if I lived closer, but I don't think I would be dining in again. I might check out the other location in Geneva and hoping for the same quality of food with a better dining experience because that...

Since there were indications of order and pick-up when I stepped in, I assumed the service was counter service which caused a confusion. The interior is antiquated; the walls are coated in an awful green color, and the flooring is this horrible brown tile. It was neat and orderly, which is a positive. Additionally, it provides everything I need to enjoy my meal.

I started with their Asian-fried chicken wings as an appetizer. It features a decent balance of drums and flats. The breaded is salty, and the portion is tiny. It had a thin layer of brown sauce on it. It has a distinct flavor that best defines it as a blend of butter and hoisan sauce. The sauce was chilled and the wings were warmed but not crispy. Unfortunately, I believe they purchased it from a grocery store's readymade wings.

I ordered their special pho for my main course, the broth has a deep, dark color and an oily coating on the surface. It smells nice, but the flavor isn't that strong. Although the tripe and tendon are tough to chew, the beef is tender. Although the rice noodles are firm and chewy, they clammed up together. I assumed the noodles were cooked and left to sit for a while. Although I enjoyed every bit of the pho, the...