AsiaLIFE

The sidewalk grill master working on the corner of streets 294 and 63 is no amateur cook.   He’s busy turning over thin cuts of beef for PHO 294, the perfect corner restaurant spot in the heart of BKK for those needing to grab a quick lunch or dinner while en route to or from the office.

In an attempt to shield the restaurant from cars, tuk tuks, and motos zooming past, two small side walls of dark-green potted trees line the front of restaurant, giving the small outdoor eating area an intimate patio-like feel. Those searching to get away from the unceasing street honking can settle down for a more peaceful cheap meal by venturing inside the meticulously clean eatery. On the right, a row of tables can seat parties of four to six, while on the left is the kitchen – allowing for easy-access plate service for the polite, wait-staff. The simple décor will soon be given a little colorful boost by the owner’s plans to put up pictures of Vietnamese cuisine. With a little humor and for those of us missing our childhood days, all utensils are brought out hot-water filled Disney, Winnie-the-Pooh mugs.

Serving up a large Vietnamese and English menu, with equally large portions of long white rice noodles in beef broth in the Pho Ge (chicken), Pho Bo (beef), goat, or fish categories, brought out on silver trays with your complementary mug of weak yellow tea.  Plenty of garnishes are brought to the table, including cilantro, holy basil, lime, chilies and bean sprouts, spicing up a simple beef or chicken noodle soup.  For those with vegetarian consistencies, just point at the one salad alternative or the stir fried fresh vegetable platter sans the pork, chicken or beef options that provides an equally satisfying meal accompanied by the ever present, fairly large mound of white rice.

Prices are in riel and they vary between meat dishes, but both lunch and dinner prove to be a bargain with most Pho dishes priced at around USD$1.75 to USD$3. The more expensive goat fondue and fish platters range from USD$4 to USD$7.50, and a bottle of Heineken sets you back at US$1.75. The location and price also make PHO 294 the unlikely place to stop for a quick morning 0.75-cent iced coffee. Simple, clean, cheap and satisfying, PHO 294 is open seven days a week, from 6am to 10pm, filling empty stomachs and small budgets with another inexpensive Asian cuisine alternative.