Pho
Da Nang, conveniently located near the sports book, presents plenty of
Vietnamese options, but also has other Asian favorites, too. The menu is broken
down into four sections: appetizers and soups, pho and noodles in soup, wok
noodles and fried rice, and rice plates. There is also a frequently changing
specials board that is a must for perusing, as you’re sure to find something to
pique your interest there.
You
may want to try a fresh Thai iced tea to accent your meal. The oh-so-refreshing
beverage uses a tea base, with other ingredients like star anise or tamarind
often added. It is mixed with sugar and condensed milk, and here it is served
with little boba balls. It’s a quick, sweet energy boost.
Appetizers
are a strong point here. On the more traditional side of Vietnamese items, the
fried egg rolls are delicious. This is really the Vietnamese specialty cha gio,
which utilizes rice paper as the wrapper, giving the roll both a light and
extra crispy texture, letting the diced veggies and ground meat inside shine
even more. Wrap the whole thing in lettuce and dip it in fish sauce for a
plethora of flavors and textures.
Another
good starter is Thai chicken with lettuce wrap, which is an extremely popular
Asian-style dish in America. Butter lettuce acts as vessel while small chunks
of chicken flavored with hoison, cilantro and peanut fill out the interior.
Strands of crispy rice noodles sit on top.
Fried egg rolls.
Nosh-Pho Da Nang.
Thai Iced Tea.
There
are many types of pho, including pho sate, which was on the specials board
during a recent visit. Here the traditional Vietnamese soup mashes up with an
Indonesian sauce to create a unique offering. Beef broth, rice noodles and
thinly sliced beef are kicked up a notch with sate sauce swirled throughout the
bowl. The smooth peanut sauce matches well with the pho and coats the beef
perfectly.Order
charbroiled chicken with steamed rice, known as com ga nu’o’ong, and you’ll
experience comfort food at its finest, with the nicely grilled fowl maintaining
plenty of flavor throughout. Vegetarians should consider braised tofu and
vegetables, as the large chunks of bean curd sop up the braising sauce.
Pho
Da Nang Vietnamese Kitchen has some really nice Vietnamese choices and an equal
amount of other solid Asian favorites. It’s a relaxing, satisfying spot, well
worth a break from the sports book.
* Rio, 11 a.m. - 11
p.m. Sun. - Thurs., 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Fri. - Sat. 702.777.7777
By Jason Harris/ Las Vegas Magazine