Tucked away in the same strip mall complex that houses some of Folsom’s most popular eateries is Pho M. Featuring its namesake signature dish pho (pronounced “fuh”), the small but comfortable eatery produces delicious Vietnamese comfort food and is quickly gaining popularity amongst those of us with a penchant for slurping soup and noodles.

I started with a classic Vietnamese/American favorite—rice paper-wrapped spring rolls with shrimp. I love these tender, delicate wraps packed with fresh mint, cilantro, carrots, rice noodles and, in this case, grilled shrimp. Served with their piquant peanut sauce, it’s a pleasing starter you can eat with your hands. 

Next, I sampled their crispy chicken wings. Meaty, plump and moist, they were so good they could’ve stood on their own, sans the sweet and spicy dipping sauce, but I recommend dipping them anyway.

I had to try the Vietnamese sandwich (bahn mi), and I’m glad I did. Packed with pork, cilantro, carrots, cucumber and jalapeños, it hit all the right flavor notes and had just enough heat to require some extra napkins—for my nose. The addition of a spattering of plum/hoisin sweet sauce and mayo helped cool it down…a little. The bread was also spot on—soft inside with a firm but not “rip the roof off your mouth” exterior. Overall, it was a fantastic sandwich—one of the best I’ve had locally. 

Finally, it was time for the main attraction (although the sandwich was worth the drive from Roseville): seafood pho.  As any a-pho-cianado will recant fervently, “It all begins with the broth.” Well, actually it all begins (at least the anticipation) when the server places the plate of fresh basil, crunchy bean sprouts, jalapeño slices and lime on the table. When the fragrant basin of steaming, sumptuous soup arrived, every taste bud began to sweat in anticipation. Rich, savory, umami, pleasing, choose your adjective here, the broth was almost sinfully X-rated good. Chock-full of shrimp, surimi, rice vermicelli noodles and vegetables, it’s so succulent that when your stomach tells you it possibly can’t take any more, you’ll ignore the warning and slurp on.

With 10 different variations of pho, including beef, chicken and vegetarian with tofu, plus Vietnamese coffees and boba (tapioca pearls) smoothies, there’s something to appease all palates…from the timid to the adventurous

Hours
11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. (Sunday-Thursday); 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (Friday-Saturday)

Try This
Grilled Shrimp Spring Rolls, Seafood Pho, Bahn Mi with Pork, Veggie Vermicelli, Boba Thai Tea

Alcohol
N/A

Tab
$

Heads-Up
Multiple vegetarian/vegan offerings; pho available in small or large; Happy Hour from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and includes any small size pho and a soda for $6 (dine-in only)

Pho M, 2690 East Bidwell Street, Suite 300, Folsom,
916-817-1184