The name points to pho, but the soup selection at What The Phở in Indianapolis’ Augusta Green neighborhood rewards a wider look. The $16.95 Pho Special combines rare beef slices, well-done beef and meatballs with rice noodles. Alongside it are bún riêu cua, a vermicelli soup with tomato and crabmeat in seafood-flavored broth, and bún bò Huế, listed here as sliced beef and rice noodles in a clear, spicy broth. Even the chicken pho uses beef broth — a useful distinction when choosing a bowl.
For a starter, the $4.95 veggie spring rolls wrap lettuce, mint and tofu in rice paper and come with peanut sauce. The Vietnamese pancake takes a more substantial approach: rice-flour pastry stuffed with shrimp, pork, bean sprouts and onion, served with fish sauce. Beyond soup, an $8.95 bánh mì comes with a choice of beef, chicken, pork, shrimp or tofu; the $15.95 combination rice plate pairs a grilled pork chop with a fried egg over steamed rice.
Diners repeatedly praise courteous, attentive service and good value. Their accounts also highlight fresh herbs and bean sprouts with the soups, sweet and creamy Thai tea, and Vietnamese coffee. Several point to the combination pho and rice dishes as satisfying orders, reinforcing the appeal of a menu where many main dishes fall between $14.95 and $18.95.
What The Phở is at 7280 Michigan Road, Indianapolis. It serves lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and is closed Sunday. Reservations and takeout are available; the restaurant also offers party trays through its website.