Banh Mi Bo Kho from Pho Lucky

I was recently craving some Bo Kho…..something nice and beefy during the last cold spell. Of course, Pho Lucky came to mind as during the last few years, I preferred the Bo Kho to the Pho there. Of course, the place changed ownership in 2022 and when I visited there was no beef stew on the menu and the pho was mediocre. In doing a bit of research, I found that they had added the bo kho back on the menu. So, I decided it was time for me to return.

It was mid-morning when I arrived and though the parking lot was kinda crazy….I think the opening of Aldi in the strip mall has something to do with that. 

I walked in and took a look at the posted menu and yes; there was Bo Kho on it, both the pho and the banh mi versions, priced at $13.95.

So, I decided to check things out. I was waved to a table. I have to say, they've done a pretty nice job renovating the place.

My banh mi bo kho arrived pretty quickly.

   This was a pretty large portion. I was a bit puzzled by the bean sprouts as I don't recall those being provided before? Not sure about all that stringy crunchy stuff and also that it was ice cold which dropped the temperature of the beef stew.

The stew was thinner than I recall, though fairly beefy and tangy, it didn't have as much black pepper as the what I'd had here under the previous ownership. I did enjoy adding the basil to the stew as it provided a nice layer of anise-citrus flavor. The cilantro also is a must. The carrots were long strips; almost like you'd buy in a bag at the grocer. It was also not cooked thru. 

The banh mi was delivered nice and hot. It was light and yeasty and just perfect for sopping up the stew.

  The crust was thin and crisp and that interior so airy! It might have been my favorite part of the meal!

The proteins were decent; the beef on the leaner side, but adequately tender. The tendon and connective tissue more tender than in the versions I've had here before. There seemed to be more meat than I recall as well.

 All-in-all, not bad. Granted, it's a bit thinner, but the flavor was decent. It's better than I thought it would be and I'd gladly have this again. Though I will be on a search for better versions.

Pho Lucky
9326 Mira Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92126
Current Hours:
Daily 8am – 845pm