Pho Dat Thanh - Columbia, MD

We are always on the hunt for some good, authentic, fresh Vietnamese food. The best place we have found to eat Vietnamese away from Eden Center (a Vietnamese dining and shopping mecca in Falls Church, VA) is Pho Dat Thanh in Columbia, MD. There is also a second location in Towson, MD. We suspect that the owners are Korean but, that doesn't stop them from putting out great dishes at a reasonable price. The menu features rice and noodle dishes as well as soups. The restaurant has a full bar in case you like to wash down you meal with some 33 (Vietnamese beer) or a mixed drink.

The restaurant is always busy with a wide range of clientele. The service is friendly and quick although, there are a few dishes that take longer to prepare than others. The Grilled Beef in Grape Leaves are probably our favorite appetizer but usually add about 10 minutes to our wait time. The dish consists of ground, seasoned beef wrapped with grape leaves and finished until hot and tender on the grill. The grape leaves are served with chopped peanuts and fried onions. Nuoc Mam (Vietnamese dipping sauce) adds a little salty heat to the already tasty rolls. 

The Bun (or rice vermicelli) dishes are probably my favorite entree. The restaurant has a choice of several different grilled and stir fried meats and spring roll combinations served on top of noodles with lots of veggies and chopped peanuts.

Another reason for going to Pho Dat Thanh is for the pho. It is great on a cold, rainy day and any time you need some comfort food. Pho is a beef broth rice noodle soup served with sliced beef on top. Their phos are flavorful of star anise and coriander seed. All phos are accompanied with a plate of bean sprouts, sliced jalapenos, fresh basil leaves and slices of lime. To put some zing in your bowl, hoisin (sweet Chinese sauce) and sriarcha (Thai hot sauce) are available on every table. If you plan to frequent Pho Dat Thanh for their phos, don't forget to ask for their Pho Bonus Card.

To get some of your favorites on one plate, their Lunch Special (available Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 3 PM) is a choice of three items from a limited set of offerings served with rice and fish sauce. On this day, I had ordered Grilled Pork, Vietnamese Spring Roll and Grilled Beef Wrapped in Grape Leaves.

There is one other Pho Dat Thanh location in Towson, MD. Be advised, the Towson restaurant offers less menu items in comparison to the Columbia location. However, our favorites are available at both locations.

To learn more about Pho Dat Thanh, go to: www.phodathanh.com.