Although Surprise Pho is a new restaurant, it has a familiarity. Traditional art hangs on the walls as '90s world music plays and bantering voices echo from the kitchen. It’s got the classic, no-frills pho joint vibe – comfortable for kids, parents, friends, couples, and solo guests slurping noodles at the bar while watching World Cup games on the flat-screen TVs.
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Barbecue pork and deep-fried egg rolls rest on a bed of vermicelli rice noodles and shredded cucumber, lettuce, Thai basil, and sprouts.
Meagan Mastriani
For vegetarians and vegans, there are six options, including spring rolls, vegetable pho, and rice or noodles with tofu, bok choy, mushrooms, carrots, and other produce. Menu photos provide a handy guide for folks who are new to Vietnamese cuisine or want to try something different.
According to Surprise Pho’s website, their generations-old recipes focus on fresh ingredients and customary Vietnamese cooking methods. This is evident in the crisp spring rolls, made to order and not pulled from the refrigerator. While premade spring rolls are acceptable and can be really tasty, having them brand new is even better. The wrapping retains more moisture, and each bite of lettuce and sprouts has that much more crunch.
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At Surprise Pho, the spring rolls are made fresh to order, not pulled out of a refrigerator.
Meagan Mastriani
To top it off, the restaurant offers a medley of drinks that could go with a meal or work nicely as dessert. Choose from iced coffee (with optional boba pearls), green tea, Thai tea (with boba option), or intensely sweet Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk.
Surprise Pho. 15693 North Reems Road, #113, Surprise; 623-546-1111.
Daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.