Phở Bắc

Phở Bắc
Exterior of the boat-shaped restaurant, 2022
Restaurant information
Established1982 (1982)
Owner(s)
  • Khoa Pham
  • Quynh-Vy Pham
  • Yenvy Pham
Previous owner(s)
  • Augustine Nien Pham
  • Theresa Cat Vu
Food typeVietnamese
CitySeattle
StateWashington
CountryUnited States
Websitethephobac.com

Phở Bắc is a chain of Vietnamese restaurants in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington. The restaurants specialize in phở dishes and have several locations in the city.

History and locations

The restaurant, originally named Cat's Submarine Sandwich Shop, was founded in 1982 by Theresa Cat Vu and Augustine Nien Pham in the Chinatown–International District. The shop operated out of a former insurance office in modern-day Little Saigon and offered sandwiches until Vu and Pham were convinced to sell phở by members of Seattle's Vietnamese community; at the time, they claimed to be the first Seattle restaurant to offer the dish. Four months after introducing phở to the menu, the dish became the main focus of the restaurant, which was renamed Phở Bắc.[1]

Entrance to boat-shaped original restaurant, 2022

The Pham family opened additional locations under the Phở Bắc name, as well as Phở Việt.[1] The original restaurant at 12th Avenue and South Jackson Street was moved into a red boat-shaped building that was originally a float attachment used for a 2004 parade organized by the Vietnamese Catholic community.[1] In 2012, a Denny Triangle location opened.[1] An additional store is in Rainier Valley.[2]

Phở Bắc Súp Shop[3] opened nearby on January 1, 2018,[4] slightly later than previously announced.[5] The restaurant initially featured the wine shop Vita Uva,[6] which closed by September and was converted into a wine club.[7] The original restaurant became known as Phở Bắc Boat,[8] or The Boat.[9] Phở Bắc Boat closed temporarily for renovations in November 2018, reopening on January 1, 2020.[10]

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the business launched the Pho Mobile to deliver food.[11] Phở Bắc opened a restaurant on 7th Avenue in Downtown Seattle, with an upstairs bar called Phởcific Standard Time, in 2021.[12]

Reception

Exterior of Phở Bắc Súp Shop in 2022

A review from Condé Nast Traveler says, "In a city swimming in good pho, the bowls here are simply some of the best."[13]

Gabe Guarente included the Chinatown–International District establishments in Eater Seattle's 2020 list of 12 "solid" restaurants in Seattle "where parking isn't a complete nightmare".[14] During the pandemic, he also recommended Phở Bắc Súp Shop in 2020 overviews of the city's best delivery and take-out options.[15][16] Eater Seattle included the restaurant in a 2021 list of "where to get comforting bowls of soups and stews for wintry Seattle weather",[17] as well as a 2022 list of "where to get soothing bowls of pho in the Seattle area".[18] Jay Friedman included Phở Bắc Súp Shop in Eater Seattle's 2022 lists of 18 "vibrant" Vietnamese Restaurants in Seattle[19] and 19 "knockout" restaurants in the Chinatown–International District.[20] In 2022, the restaurant was included in Eater Seattle's 2022 list of 38 "essential" Seattle restaurants,[21] and writers for the site included Phở Bắc Súp Shop in an overview of 15 "lively" restaurants in the city for large group dinners.[22]

In 2023, Phở Bắc Sup Shop, Phởcific Standard Time, and The Boat made Yenvy and Quynh Pham semifinalists in the James Beard Foundation Award's Outstanding Restaurateur category.[23][24]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Varriano, Jackie (October 13, 2022). "After 4 decades, the Phams are still the first family of phở in Seattle". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  2. ^ Callaghan, Adam H. (January 2, 2018). "Pho and Natural Wine Come Together at Last in the International District". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "Phở Bắc Sup Shop - International District - Seattle". The Infatuation. August 22, 2022. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  4. ^ Callaghan, Adam H. (December 26, 2018). "Experts Pick Seattle's Top New Restaurants of 2018". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  5. ^ Callaghan, Adam H. (August 23, 2017). "The 7 Most Anticipated Restaurants in Seattle, Fall 2017". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  6. ^ Callaghan, Adam H. (October 19, 2017). "The International District's First Natural Wine Shop Is on Track After All". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  7. ^ Hill, Megan (September 10, 2018). "The International District's Only Natural Wine Shop Shuts Down". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  8. ^ Guarente, Gabe (July 19, 2019). "Vietnamese-Cajun Broil at Pho Bac Sup Shop Promises to Be a Rager". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  9. ^ Callaghan, Adam H. (April 5, 2018). "The Hottest New Restaurants in the Seattle Area, November 2022". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  10. ^ Guarente, Gabe (December 30, 2019). "Seattle's Iconic Pho Bac Boat Restaurant Will Reopen on New Year's Day". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  11. ^ Guarente, Gabe (March 25, 2020). "Iconic Pho Bac Revs Up Quirky 'Pho Mobile' As Part of Its First-Ever Delivery Service". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  12. ^ Guarente, Gabe (June 2, 2021). "Iconic Pho Bac Readies New Downtown Location — with Some Banh Mi". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  13. ^ "Phở Bắc Súp Shop — Restaurant Review". Condé Nast Traveler. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  14. ^ Guarente, Gabe (February 13, 2020). "12 Solid Seattle Restaurants Where Parking Isn't a Complete Nightmare". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  15. ^ Guarente, Gabe (March 27, 2020). "Where to Get Hearty Family Meals for Takeout or Delivery in Seattle". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  16. ^ Guarente, Gabe (April 15, 2020). "Where to Get Fantastic Vietnamese Food in Seattle for Takeout and Delivery". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  17. ^ "Where to Get Comforting Bowls of Soups and Stews for Wintry Seattle Weather". Eater Seattle. February 12, 2021. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  18. ^ "14 Spots for Soothing Bowls of Pho in the Seattle Area". Eater Seattle. January 24, 2018. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  19. ^ Friedman, Jay (October 11, 2016). "18 Vibrant Vietnamese Restaurants in Seattle". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  20. ^ Friedman, Jay (October 31, 2016). "19 Knockout Restaurants in Seattle's Chinatown-International District". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  21. ^ "The 38 Essential Restaurants in Seattle". Eater Seattle. April 10, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  22. ^ Huygen, Meg van (July 31, 2018). "15 Lively Seattle Restaurants for Big Group Dinners". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "2023 James Beard Award Semifinalists from Seattle and the Northwest". Seattle Metropolitan. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  24. ^ "Seattle's Semifinalists for the James Beard Awards Have Been Announced". Eater Seattle. January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
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