Chicago

If I had a Vietnamese friend, I would ask her what the hell “pho” means. It seems about half of the Vietnamese places on Argyle are named pho something. So what’s the difference between Pho 777, Pho 888, and Pho 999? I couldn’t tell you, but I do know that Pho 777 has me hooked. The menu has a wide selection of authentic Vietnamese dishes, most under $10. What interested me were the special noodle bowls that feature titillatingly tasty ingredients. Last time I brought along a friend who was especially psyched for the tripe—which has a texture that calls to mind the small bumps on a tongue—but even she was pushed to her limits of exotic food exploration. The bowls also contain transparent pink things that could be the “connecting tissue” advertised on the menu, and Vietnamese meatballs, all served with Thai basil, bean sprouts, and an assortment of spicy sauces. Any adventurous foodie whose curiosity is piqued should be thoroughly satisfied.

Photo:  Eric Kroh