Pho 99 Noodle Bar and Grill

I used to eat here once a week every week for a few years and I gradually learned to love the food. It was walking distance from my work, always quick with the service and the price was good. It didn’t hurt that my boss had a weakness for them so when I would play my cards right I’d only have to pay once in a while, of course the whole «I fly, you buy» comment meant less when he was expensing it, I just wanted him to know I would drive the 2 blocks and bring everyone back food. Of course I preferred eating there because as we all know phở to go just isn’t the same, but at least you don’t get a thumb in your soup (you know what I’m talking about).
The broth is fairly light, but rich for it’s color, clear which means they paraboiled well. The noodles are fresh and not caked to the bottom in a brick form and hold up well over time (I don’t recommend you ever microwave phở), but if you have left over noodles they aren’t bloated out and too soft. A nice clean array of condiments their bowls give you enough room to brew your concoction.
The bahn mi is a bit soft and by soft I mean literally and on flavor, just not enough bite anywhere, no heat, poorly pickled daikon and carrots, lathered in spread, but it doesn’t work well like that. The meat is often these huge chunks and even a bit pricey.
The grilled beef in their rice/​vermicelli dishes were the best besides the phở, but being probably the 4^th best in lake forest it rough, but it had my vote due to proximity.