Posted by Tim Lewis

Pho Aroma in West Seattle

It pays to be the top result on Google search. That’s how Tove and I found Pho Aroma in West Seattle. After a nice hike through Lincoln Park, we wanted to grab dinner, so I quickly grabbed my phone and Googled “The Best Pho in West Seattle.” The first result to pop us was Pho Aroma, so that’s exactly where we went.

Pho Aroma (5605 Delridge Way SW) lives up to its name. Tove and I parked across the street from the Vietnamese restaurant, but we could smell the pho in the air the second we stepped out of the car. It was like one of those old cartoons where the scent drifted under our nose, picked us up and carried us directly into the restaurant.

Pho Aroma was loaded with people, but there was still enough room for us to be seated right away. I think it’s a good sign when a restaurant is crowded, especially at 8pm on a Tuesday night. We actually heard one of the waiters tell the man sitting behind us that a Vietnamese tour group of 20 people stopped in earlier that night. If Vietnamese tourists are coming to Pho Aroma for authentic Vietnamese food — that’s exactly where we want to be too.

I never had pho before, so this was a brand new experience for me. I wasn’t sure what to order, so I asked the waiter at Pho Aroma what he recommended. Without hesitation, he told me the pho with rare steak and beef brisket (he likes the brisket because it’s a little fatty). Since I was totally clueless, that’s what I went with. Tove ordered the pho with rare steak and beef meatballs. As a starter, we also ordered a shrimp salad roll (which was served with a delicious peanut sauce).

I’m absolutely sold on Pho Aroma. I don’t have anything to compare it to, but their pho was lights out. The broth was incredible, the veggies, herbs and spices were fresh, and the meat was tender. At the end of our meal Tove said, “This is the best pho meet I’ve ever had.” She’s been to several pho restaurants around Washington and Oregon, and she was quick to say Pho Aroma is one of the top Vietnamese spots she’s ever visited.

Here’s a word of warning: The small order of pho is more than enough food at Pho Aroma. I’m a BIG eater, so I ordered the large. I wound up finishing my bowl, but not without fighting through the last quarter of my meal (I guess it was a pride thing). Tove ordered the small and she could only make it through half her bowl before calling it quits.

Our bill at Pho Aroma was a little more than $19 (for two — not apiece), so it’s extremely affordable. You can fill your belly with extremely good pho for cheap. That’s an awesome combination if you ask me.

I haven’t tried pho anywhere else, so I really want to check out some other Vietnamese spots in Seattle. I’ll say this though — the other pho restaurants better bring their A-game, because Pho Aroma set the bar really high.

Have you ever eaten at Pho Aroma in West Seattle? Is it the best pho restaurant in the area? What is your favorite pho spot in Seattle? We’d love to hear from you! Please leave your comments below or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Don’t forget to also check out Seattle Bloggers for more great places to eat and drink in the Emerald City!