Tis Me Michelle

My favorite type of food is, hands down, Asian food. There is such a variety of fantastic, flavorful options. I absolutely love Thai flavors, and I’m always down for good sushi. When my time of the month comes around, all I want is Chinese takeout. Lately, on cloudy days, I’ve really craved a good bowl of Pho.

Of course, I needed to find some good options nearby, which is when I stumbled on Pho Huong Lan 2. The 2 is for it being the second location on W. Colonial, the original being off of E. Colonial and Mills. I’ve only been to the W. Colonial location.

The Parking: The restaurant is conveniently located in a shopping center with other Asian restaurants and an Asian market, so there is plenty of parking! Just note it is all the way off to the corner of the main shopping center.

The Atmosphere: Very relaxed and no fuss. There are long tables set up throughout, allowing for plenty of seating. From the couple of times I’ve gone, there’s been a steady stream of folks, but not so much that the tables were communal. Each table has everything you need to enjoy your pho with lots of condiments.

The Menu: They have a long list of Pho options depending on what you want in your Pho. They also have beverages, including fresh sugarcane juices and Vietnamese coffee. I would definitely try the Vietnamese coffee sometime. In the back of the restaurant, there’s a large chalkboard with a few additional items. The first time I went, I ordered the summer rolls. They were okay, but not something I’d order again.

The pho is something I’d come back for. Both times, I ordered the P3. PHỞ TÁI, BÒ VIÊN, which has steak and meatballs. My favorite part is the variety of sizes, 8 sizes to choose from. Starting from the baby bowl all the way to the king bowl. I’ve always gone with the baby bowl, and it is more than enough for me. With pho and ramen, there’s a point where I’ve tapped out on noodles and just want the broth and protein. So even with the baby bowl, I didn’t end up finishing the noodles. The noods were very good, with the perfect consistency, not over- or underdone. The broth is what I’m there for, so fragrant and warm. I love adding in the Thai basil and jalapenos that are provided, along with the chili paste to give it an extra kick. I add a touch of Hoisin to the chili paste to dip the meat into as well. Such a solid bowl of pho.

The baby bowl was hit with inflation. It used to be around $10, and now it’s closer to $13. Oddly enough, only the price of the baby bowl seemed to change. I do get it, though. Honestly, cannot imagine how big even the small kid size is compared to the baby bowl, let alone the king bowl. The pro is that you can get whichever pho combo you want for the same price. The price is based on the bowl size. There are a few options that have a surcharge, but the majority do not.

Overall: I would be here more often if they had banh mi too, but I get that they can’t have it all. I’d rather a place have a specialty and it be great, like this pho. This is a solid go-to spot that will be in my pho cravings rotation.

Rating: 8.7/10

Address: 5600 W Colonial Dr #316a, Orlando, FL 32808