Pho Dai Loi 2 – Buford Highway – Atlanta – Vietnamese

Pho Dai Loi 2 – Buford Highway – Atlanta – Vietnamese

Hello Vietnamese squatters in front of Vietnamese restaurant Pho Dai Loi 2

Pho Dai Loi 2 is located on Buford Highway in northwestern Atlanta where a large, predominantly Vietnamese community has sprung up alongside Mexican and Korean communities interspersed with each other. Remarkably, there is even a 24 hour Korean restaurant in the area. The Vietnamese area along Buford Highway is, according to estimates, about 10 times larger than the Vietnamese area in Orlando along Colonial Drive and Mills Avenue.

With so many cultural influences in abundance, coupled with a sizeable ethnic population, the food here at Pho Dai Loi 2 is destined to be some very authentic Vietnamese tasty chomps. Indeed it is. The owners of Pho Dai Loi must have been doing something right at their first location to open up a 2nd shop here on Buford Highway.

Inside, the restaurant is brimming with patrons, predominantly Vietnamese families out on the weekend as well as a few escapees from the conference nearby, trying to sneak away from the banh mi sandwiches and seeking a bite elsewhere outside of the hotel walls. The decor is minimal and you feel like you just stepped into a restaurant half way across the world in Vietnam, as you listen to plates and utensils clattering, people chattering on about their past week, slurps of the noodle soup. One thing is for sure, no matter where you go in the world, Vietnamese people love being loud for no reason.

The service is very fast here and like most Vietnamese places, quite abrupt but friendly at the same time. We begin with some spring rolls, (sometimes called summer rolls) but I just go by the Vietnamese name, goi cuon, cause that name never changes. Rice vermicelli noodles, shrimp, and herbs wrapped in a clear rice paper. A delicious start.

Goi cuon, or spring roll at Pho Dai Loi 2

We also have the Vietnamese egg rolls, called cha gio, crispy and fried and filled with pork filling mixed with carrots and black eared mushrooms. Just like mom would make at home.

Cha gio, the Vietnamese egg roll at Pho Dai Loi 2

We are here at Pho Dai Loi so we must order some of their namesake: the Pho Dac biet, I order the smaller bowl knowing that if I ordered the super large bowl I may just explode. The pho comes steaming hot, the broth is delicious and aromatic and the noodles are cooked just right. The meat toppings are pretty good too, so all in all this is a great bowl of Pho similar to those that may be found in the best of the Vietnamese establishments in Orlando.

Additionally one of our brothers order the com dac biet, rice with egg casserole, pork chops, tomato and lettuce topped with fish sauce dip.

Pho Dai Loi is for seriously good and all for a seriously cheap price.

Tasty Chomps rating!!!
4 out of 5 tasty chomps!!!!