What's white and green and warm all over? Here's a hint: Wander a block south of the Alaska Junction and you're getting warmer, literally. Still don't know? It looks like a word that rhymes with flow. Yes, some people call it "foe," but this invigorating entr/e my friends, is actually pronounced "fuh."

Huh? What's that you ask?

Pho is a wonderfully warm and delicious soup from the far reaches of Vietnam that can now be enjoyed right in our own backyard thanks to Pho Than Brothers at 4822 California.

Owned by Chi Dang, originally from Saigon (now called Ho Chi Minh City), this West Seattle restaurant is just one of the nine locations to find the family's famous pho. And the city is eating it up - for lunch and dinner (though, traditionally pho is eaten for breakfast or as a late night snack). To describe the soup's benefits, on menu it reads, "Pho is especially invigorating in cool weather and to those recovering from a cold." Dang agrees.

"We get customers coming in all the time saying that 'the weather is good for pho today.'"

Albeit, there's nothing like hot soup to warm the bones on a cold day, but there are couple other reasons pho seems to be taking off.

"It's reasonably priced, fast, and convenient," says Dang.

Than Brothers offers a huge bowl of pho that will fill you up for under five bucks (though the business has been around for 10 years, prices have only increased once and that was five years ago). The service is quicker than fast food in some cases and it's easy to come and go in well under an hour-long lunch break. Here's how it works.

Take a seat and quickly peruse the menu which is conveniently on the table already, protected under glass. While you're deciding, the server will bring out a plate of condiments to compliment your pho including fresh bean sprouts, basil, sliced jalapenos, and lime. At the same time, you will also get your plate of golden Banh Choux a la cream pastries (custard puffs), but they are not an appetizer, so make sure to save them for dessert.

Next you pick your favorite "flavor 'o pho" and order - the process is simple. Pho itself consists of rice noodle soup with green onions, scallions and fresh cilantro to start. Then you just pick which meat or veggie to add. You have a choice of vegetarian pho with tofu and mushrooms (called Pho Chay), chicken (called Pho Ga), meat ball (called Pho Bo Vien), or beef (called Pho Bo). If you are a beef fan, there are actually 14 different ways to have your pho prepared, with everything from brisket and well-done flank to tripe and soft tendon.

Minutes later, your steaming bowl of pho arrives. You grab a pair of chopsticks to shovel in the rice noodles and take a spoon to make sure you don't miss a drop of the flavorful broth (please note: slurping is acceptable here). Spice it up with hoisin, sate or chili sauce, and your pho is good to go.

If it's an unbearable chilly or damp day, many diners also enjoy a cup of hot tra (tea) with their pho. Others opt for the nuoc dua (otherwise known as "young coconut milk"), a different but delicious drink.

Little by little, West Seattle is warming up to pho and the concept of Vietnamese cuisine. Dang already sees several repeat customers each week and is confident that once new customers taste-test the savory soup, they will be back for more. His words of wisdom to skeptics are: "It's wonderful, just try it and you'll see."

What:

Pho Than Brothers

Where:

4822 California Ave. SW

937.6264

http://www.thanbrothers.com

When:

11 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily

Price:

Small $3.85

Medium $4.25

Large $4.55

X-Large $5.95

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