Review: Pho's Hot and Spicy
By Minna A in Food on Aug 12, 2011 6:30PM
Don’t be misled by the “pho” in the name--this quintessential hole-in-the-wall restaurant offers what might be the hottest, spiciest Thai in town.
With just eight tables in the dining room, this tiny restaurant is best suited for groups of four or less. Pho’s menu totes Thai restaurant favorites like fried rice, pad thai and green curry, but includes the added option to personalize each dish to your spicy preference.
Their spicy scale is proudly displayed on their walls, with champions of each level gleefully smiling for the camera indicating their level of spiciness. In a scale that ranges to 12, anything below a level 5 spicy isn’t even deemed worthy of the wall rating scale.
Our waitress came to take our table’s order, using her expertise to gauge the levels of spicy suitable for each diner. After eyeing our table, she smiled and gave her recommendations: 3 (mild) for my companions, and a 7 for me. Worried about the spiciness of each level (those contenders on the wall looked nearly defeated), I opted to make my dish, the Musman curry with rice noodles, a level 5 spice. The curry came out a deceivingly mild brown color, but one bite proved that while a 5 may sit in the middle of the scale, this level of spiciness is incomparable to anything we've had, and will leave your eyes watering. If a level 5 can leave your eyes watering, we can only assume a level 12 will light your mouth on fire.
While Pho’s menu of deliciously large portions of tasty Thai favorites can stand on their own, the added bonus of choosing your level of spiciness makes this dining experience an adventure. Try your hand at the level 12 spice, and let us know if you survive it.
Pho’s Hot and Spicy is located at 3332 N. Lincoln Ave.