Pho Hoa Pho Tai

Pho Hoa Pho Tai is the rare-steak beef noodle soup served at Pho Hoa, a no-frills pho specialist on El Cajon Boulevard in City Heights’ Little Saigon. The shop focuses almost entirely on beef pho, drawing regulars for its clear, beefy broth and brisk service from early morning. It’s a classic stop on the Boulevard’s Vietnamese corridor. It made our picks list for consistency and value: thin-sliced steak lands just-rare in a steaming bowl that showcases a clean broth and fresh herbs. Order this if you want the purest read on the house stock; portions are generous and turnaround is fast. Walk-in friendly, with early hours that make it an easy breakfast or post-errand meal.