Nong La Cafe {restaurant}, Sawtelle, West LA - Pho

I've just realized that there are probably 9,000 pho restaurants within 4 miles of me.

But for three-and-a-half more miles, and in the other direction, I get Nong La Cafe.

{above: Bun Chay with Tofu and Mushrooms, additional note: Bún Bò Huế was had and liked, but the photo accidentally deleted!}

Pho Ga

Pho Ga: free-range chicken in chicken broth. So far, other than the version I now make at home, Nong La's very light, clean chicken broth is my favorite. Granted, I have only had pho at maybe a total of 7 different restaurants over the course of my delicious lifetime, but still...Also? I think I am victim of the "free-range chicken" marketing phrasing.

Pho Garnish

Nem Nuong Cuon {Pork Rolls}

Fresh rice paper rolls with grilled pork, and fried crisps inside

Goi Cuon {Spring Rolls}

fresh rice paper rolls with pork, shrimp, and rice vermicelli

Hue Beer {Vietnam}

Wines

from their list (!) 2011 La Grange Tiphaine 'Riage Tournant' Rosé and NV Domaine de la Pepiere 'Pepie Bulles.' So if I say Nong La is my pho-vorite so far (you knew I was going to do that somewhere, right?), it might be because of the Pepie Bulles!