Tag: WFXXXIII

Pho Dakao is one of my favorite places to eat in Worcester, not only because of the food but because the overall experience is outstanding. Service is always good, food is fresh and tasty, atmosphere is casual and inviting and you can enjoy a variety of well prepared meals at a very reasonable price.

For this Foodies adventure, our end of the table started with a few appetizers including the beef teriyaki and a bowl of seafood and pork soup, both of which were a great way to start our meal. As Pho Dakao is one of my “go to” places for food, I am familiar with the menu but usually find myself ordering a rice dish, noodle dish or Pho soup. Tonight I was in the mood for beef, so for my main dish I ordered the Sizzling Mongolian Beef. When it arrived at the table, it sizzled and snapped, just as it should and the flavors filled the air to the point my dining companions couldn’t wait to get their chop sticks into it! The sliced sirloin was perfectly cooked charbroiled outside and tender inside, and flavored with a mix of teriyaki, onions, scallions and ginger. I asked for mine to be cooked spicy and the heat that was added made it even more enjoyable. The dish was served with a bowl of white rice, which by itself may not be the most exciting addition, but eaten with the main dish added a simple flavor and texture that seemed to bring the whole dish together. As usual, my experience at Pho Dakao was outstanding and I was happy to enjoy another wonderful meal with my WorcesterFoodie friends!

Pho Dakao has been a long time favorite for Vietnamese food in the Worcester area. A long time favorite of mine, Pho has always provided interesting extensive menu of comfort food and unique dishes. As I sat down for dinner and looked over the menu I decided that I was having one of those nights where I wanted old standby’s. After reviewing the menu I decided to start with wonton soup and the summer rolls.
Wonton soup seems to be a very basic item that surprisingly few places do well. Usually it tends to be a simple broth, wontons and some other garnish. Yet Pho Dakao makes a wonton soup that is crisp, complex and uses only top quality ingredients and prepares it so it tastes fresh every time. The summer rolls are a combination of a soft rice type wrapper fresh lettuce, thinley sliced pork, shrimp and are a delightful alternative to fried spring rolls. They are complimented perfectly with the peanut sauce that accompanies them or on occasion I have been known to stray and also use the fish sauce or hoisin sauce.

For my main course I opted for the Sizzling Mongolian Beef. The Mongolian beef dish is prepared with scallions, onions, ginger, green peppers and savory brown sauce and comes out on a sizzling plate. The preparation and quality of what goes into the food at Pho is what makes it one of my favorite local restaurants. The dish while minimal in ingredients is masterfully prepared and works seamlessly to meld the flavors and ingredients into a wonderfully sensory experience.

Overall, Pho Dakao can best be described as a trusted favorite that seems to consistently serve crisp, fresh, complex flavorful meals time after time. In my dining experiences one of the hardest things to find is a restaurant that consistently produces top quality food. I have never been to Pho and had a bad experience with the food, quality or service.