GRUB: Pho 32, a feeble attempt at Vietnamese/Japanese, by Koreans.

GRUB 411:

• PHO 32 & SHABU SHABU:  Multiple locations across NYC. For complete list, click here.
• TYPE:   Vietnamese / Japanese fusion.  (huh?!)
• PRICE: $$
• OVERVIEW: A franchise, these casual eateries can be found smattered around NYC, NJ and Queens.  The phrase “Jack of all trades, Master of none” applies perfectly to Pho 32.
• SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

FULL REVIEW:

Every now and then, my parents try something new. I was surprised to discover that one of their “new” places was Pho 32.  I’ve seen Pho 32 on West 32nd Street in K-Town, NYC…as well as on St. Mark’s Place.  There are approximately 6 locations in the NY Metropolitan area.  It’s easily identifiable as a franchise restaurant which — at least in my book — is usually grounds for immediate mediocracy.

“Jack of all trades, Master of none”  definitely applies to Pho 32.

How Shabu-Shabu (a traditional Japanese DIY soup with meats and vegetables in a clear broth)…and Vietnamese Pho relate to each other is beyond me.  And Pho 32 does a miserable job at doing either dish any kind of culinary justice.

Overall, their dishes are watered-down, lack seasoning and also lack authenticity.  Here’s a chronological plate-by-plate of our meal:

• Each place setting at Pho 32 comes complete with your own, personal hot plate…upon which you can boil your own serving of Shabu Shabu.  Each pot starts off with a clear, watered-down seafood broth.

• Each Shabu Shabu order comes with a full plate of vegetables for the broth, complete with squash, corn, mushrooms, Chinese cabbage, fish cakes, tofu and other greens.

• There are many types of Shabu Shabu: Seafood, beef, pork, mixed… Of course, Momma Park ordered the Seafood Shabu Shabu (she’s not a red meat eater).  $18.95

• Naturally, Poppa Park got the Beef Shabu Shabu, being the carnivore that he is.  $18.95

• There’s a station where you can create your own “dipping sauce” or condiments for the Shabu Shabu.  Tubs filled with everything from garlic, cilantro, soy, chili sauce…you name it, they have it.  The idea is that you can either add things to the boiling pot of soup (like garlic), or create a dipping sauce for the veggies & meats, like below.

• Between the 2 types of Shabu Shabu (seafood vs. beef), Momma Park’s Seafood Shabu Shabu won.  Because hers came with shrimp, the flavor from the shells made the broth more robust and full of flavor.
• Unfortunately for my dad, the beef slices weren’t enough to add any substance to the extremely watered down broth.  He also added the corn to his pot, which made the broth unpalate-ably sweet.
• As far as Shabu Shabu goes…this was low-grade all around.  The broth was so watered down to begin with, you might as well have used plain tap water.  There was nothing that Pho 32 did to make this dish special.  Underwhelming in every way.  SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

• The ONLY redeeming factor for the Shabu Shabu was the complimentary Kal-Guk-Su (literal translation: “Knife Noodle”) that you could add to your broth.  This was deliciously fresh and tasty.  SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

• Beef Brisket Pho ($7.95): I’m a huge Pho fan.  This may have been the single worst bowl of Pho I’ve ever eaten.  Broth: under-seasoned, watered-down, plain.  Beef brisket:  fatty, thin, devoid of flavor.  Fixins: this only came with a few slices of Jalapeno peppers & sprouts — no Basil leaves, no hoisin sauce.  Noodles were also limp and over-cooked.  SEOULDIVA SAYS: 0 / ♥♥♥♥♥

• Grilled Pork Chops Appetizers ($7.95): I am also a huge fan of Vietnamese pork chops.  Again, these were the single worst pork chops I have tasted.  1) the pork chops were T-H-I-C-K, so the meat was tough and hard to chew.  2) no seasoning — I might as well have ordered plain grilled pork chops.  SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥