Pho-gettaboudit

My only associations with deep Reseda are Boogie Nights and The Karate Kid.  But I've been kind of intrigued by the array of restaurants I've noticed along Reseda Boulevard en route to our doula's house.  Based on a quick scanning of business signs, there doesn't appear to be any one predominant ethnic group out there.  And some signs make for fun roadside reading; It's All Good Kabob House definitely wins the prize for best restaurant name.

It's All Good appeared to be closed last night so instead I had a late dinner at Pho 999.  I then remembered that I've been to the Van Nuys location eons ago, and haven't been back. 

I can't say the bun with cha gio merits a special return trip to the Reseda outpost either.  The texture of beef was nearing jerky-like toughness, and the fried cha gio are closer to average dull spring rolls than funky, thick blistering ones.  But I like the scallions, sweet pickled carrots and radish, and the generous amount of noodles and lettuce.  The room's spaciousness and heavy-on-the-redness pleases, even if I could've done without the Larry King blaring on the TV sets.

To be fair, I also might have ordered badly; pho's usually a better litmus test anyway.    But for this level of Vietnamese food I'll save the gas and, alas, just resign myself to the local Silver Lake Vietnamese hipster spots. 

Pho 999
7255 Reseda Blvd.
Reseda, CA 91335
818.705.1899