Can't find a cheap meal in Portland? Pho-get about it!

By Valerie Hurst, KATU News Published: Feb 26, 2013 at 6:23 PM PDT

PORTLAND, Ore. – On a grey winter day when you feel a cold coming on, some pho just might be the remedy.

With more pho (pronounced ‘fuh’) restaurants popping up in Portland, it’s easier to find the popular Vietnamese soup.

The smell of beef broth and basil fills Pho Oregon on Northeast 82nd Avenue.

“It’s one of those things I turn back to when I’m not feeling well,” said Pho Oregon customer Vinita Bigil. “Not only is the price great, but the food is nutritious. You’re getting a lot of vegetables. They don’t put MSG in it.”

Pho is a rice noodle soup that eats like a meal, usually for less than $10.

KATU News partner Willamette Week puts pho in focus in its “Cheap Eats Guide,” which will be released Wednesday. The guide includes a list of restaurants where you can get lunch for less than $10, and 24 foods to try for less than $7. Almost a quarter of the guide is devoted to East Asian food, Vietnamese food in particular.

In Portland, you can find flavors from all over Vietnam.

Pho Oregon manager Loc Truong and his family opened the restaurant 15 years ago. They’re one of many Vietnamese immigrant families that chose to settle in Portland.

“We try to cut a little bit,” he said. “Make it cheaper, better, the best.”