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
While this might have been the smallest in terms of portion size thus far, it was the Missus's favorite to date. The broken rice was very fragrant and moist.
While veggies and herbs were very fresh, the crepe was on the soggy side. The fillings were even worse; first off, there was barely any shrimp in this. What was present was a ton of raw bean sprouts. What shrimp there was tasted on the muddy side. 
This delivered as usual. The tortillas were still warm when we got home; such very nice corn flavor, pliable, yet hearty.
It is so hearty and comforting. It really has that "aaah" appeal. Nothing like rich, beefy, soup dripping out of a maize-y tortilla down your arm and then your throat on a chilly day, right?
The Bun Rieu is now $13.99, but is totally worth the price. A generous amount of very fresh herbs and veggies. And look they still provide a good amount of shredded morning glory, though there's a bit less banana blossom these days. 
So savory, with nice porky-seafood tones. The tomatoes added a perfect amount of acidity. The pork ribs were quite swiney, though a bit more chewy than usual. And the Missus enjoys the tofu a lot. The broth just seemed so good, perhaps it's because we hadn't been back here 
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I will say upfront that my favorite item were the fries, which had been dusted and were perfectly seasoned and still crisp after the 15 minutes drive home.
The rice was on the drier, harder end of the scale. I was asked if I wanted “spicy” sauce with my lunch and I said yes, but I think they forgot it. It’s ok, I’ll leave that to the “soft” opening.
The “pot stickers” were like a very bland, chewy, fried mandu. This was not terrible; very fast-casual in nature, though not my kind of thing.