In Madison, the Alcohol License Review Committee wields the most power over restaurants in terms of granting and denying liquor licenses. But the name of a business wouldn’t be a basis to deny it a license, said Jennifer Zilavy, Madison assistant city attorney.

“The city would have no basis for requesting Pho King to change their name just because it sounds like a ‘bad’ word,” Zilavy said.

Downtown Ald. Mike Verveer, who sits on the ALRC, said the last time he remembers a restaurant name getting this kind of attention was when a Cheba Hut franchise opened on Gilman Street in 2012 with cannabis-themed sandwich names.

The Sh*tty Barn, a live music venue established in 2010 in Spring Green, often draws snickers because of its name. It sometimes appears with an asterisk in its name, even on its own website.

Meanwhile, Ting plans to open Pho King Good at 600 Williamson St. within the next two months. The location is where the 35-year-old Chinese noodle restaurant Wah Kee was until late July, when its owner retired after 32 years at that location.