The Vietnamese beef noodle soup that the Pham family brought to Seattle in 1982. The Boat on South Jackson serves the city's defining bowl, with brisket, flank and tendon.
Where to eat it: 6 restaurants across 2 cities.
Pho arrived in Seattle in 1982 when Theresa and Augustine Pham opened Cat's Submarine on South Jackson Street, started selling Theresa's weekend pho to homesick Vietnamese customers, and switched the menu over to pho within four months. The shop renamed itself Pho Bac and is generally considered the first dedicated pho restaurant in the United States. The Phams' five children have since built a Seattle empire including Pho Bac Sup Shop, The Boat and Hello Em on 12th. Seattle now has more pho restaurants per capita than any US city outside California.
Common allergens: Gluten, Soy
Tip from the editors. Skim every 30 minutes for a clear broth; the difference between a great pho and a muddy one is the patience of the skimmer.
Pho Hoa Pasteur has poured beef pho on this District 3 corner since 1968 and now carries a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its long-simmered, clean-tasting broth.
Signature: Pho bo, Pho tai, Beef pho
Order: A bowl of pho tai, plus the quay dough sticks for dipping.
Tip: Prices are posted by bowl size; the tables of fresh herbs and gio chao quay are self-serve.
Pho Le is a Cho Lon institution famous for a rich, sweet Southern-style beef broth and generous portions, drawing steady queues on the edge of Chinatown.
Signature: Pho bo, Beef brisket pho, Pho with tendon
Order: The full beef pho with brisket and tendon.
Tip: Southern pho runs sweeter than Hanoi's; the hoisin and sriracha on the table are meant for it.
Pho Quynh sits on the backpacker strip of Pham Ngu Lao and runs nearly around the clock, a reliable late bowl of pho and beef stew for the Bui Vien crowd.
Signature: Pho bo kho, Beef stew pho, Late-night pho
Order: The pho bo kho, a beef-stew twist on the classic bowl.
Tip: It is one of the few kitchens serving proper pho well after midnight in the backpacker area.
The Boat in Seattle's Little Saigon is the original Pho Bac since 1982: the city's first pho restaurant, still in a red boat-shaped building, bowls from $13.
Try: Pho tai with rare flank
Ba Bar Capitol Hill in Seattle is the city's only proper late-night Vietnamese kitchen: pho until 02:00 weekdays, 03:30 weekends, bahn mi at the counter.
Try: Pho ga at 02:00
Ramie in Seattle's Capitol Hill is the Nguyen siblings' 2024 modern Vietnamese room: Ba Sa veterans channelling pho and nuoc cham into Wagyu carpaccio.
Signature: Hamachi crudo with nuoc cham, Wagyu carpaccio, Pho risotto
Order: Hamachi crudo with nuoc cham, herbs and lime to start, then the pho risotto.
Tip: Wednesday and Sunday early seatings have the chef at the pass; ask for the bar to watch the line.
More cities are in research. Want pho covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.