A new counter inside the Grand Rapids Downtown Market is serving up steaming bowls of pho and stacked banh mi sandwiches, with a side of fries topped in pho gravy for good measure. Pho Xa has opened at 435 Ionia Ave. SW, taking over the space once occupied by boba tea shop Chewie Bitez, and it's already drawing attention for a menu that stretches well past the standard bowl of noodles.
Blon and Christine Hang, who also operate Rak Thai in the market, own Pho Xa, according to woodtv.com. Rak Thai will remain open alongside the new restaurant, the station reports. Pho Xa serves customizable pho and banh mi, MLive.com reports.
The menu pairs familiar pho and banh mi options with less conventional takes, according to the station's report. Pho, a broth-based noodle soup, and banh mi are the two mainstays, with additional dishes that put a twist on those staples.
Five Proteins, One Broth
Customers can choose among brisket, meatballs, shaved ribeye, tendon and shank for their pho, according to MLive. The O.G. Bowl combines brisket, meatballs and shaved ribeye; the Big Boss includes all five choices. Bowls are served with bone broth, rice noodles and herbs.
Sandwich options include the O.G. Stack, with cold cuts, house-made pâté, pickled vegetables and herbs, and the Pho-rench Dip, which pairs brisket with bone marrow butter and pho jus for dipping, MLive reports.
Beyond the Bowl
Other offerings include crispy chicken skin, spring rolls, Vietnamese coffee and phoutine fries, topped with pho gravy, brisket and cheese curds, according to the report. Pho Xa has counter seating; across the aisle, a retail space sells international snacks and treats.
Pho Xa is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., the station reports. The full menu is posted at downtownmarketgr.com/market-hall/pho-xa.
The Downtown Market’s Broader Role
The Grand Rapids Downtown Market describes itself as a mixed-use facility that brings together local food production, education and entrepreneurship opportunities, according to the Downtown Market.
Joining a Growing Local Pho Scene
Pho Xa isn't the only place in town serving up bowls of the Vietnamese staple. Pho House GR opened at the end of May at 5751 Byron Center Ave. in Wyoming, serving a hot-stone version of pho that arrives sizzling with rare beef and meatballs, according to wgrd.com. That spot also lets diners customize bowls with toppings like lobster tail, oxtail and tripe, the outlet notes.
Also inside the Downtown Market, at the same 435 Ionia Ave. SW address, Pho 616 has been dishing out beef- and chicken-based pho since opening in August 2017, built on owner Ty Nguyen's mother's recipe, according to grmag.com. Elsewhere in the city, Lai Thai Kitchen offers seven types of pho, including a vegetarian version made with veggie broth, the magazine reports.
