Cheap Eats: Pho K & K

On unseasonably chilly summer days, Pho K & K's neon sign depicting a steaming hot bowl of soup seems an enticing suggestion for passersby. The restaurant on Telegraph Avenue serves up large bowls of phở, a Vietnamese noodle soup, complete with the customary bean sprouts and herbs to sprinkle on top. Pho K & K adds a twist to the extras, with a slice of lemon as opposed to the traditional lime, and a few jalapeno slices for the adventurous patron.

The soup is a comforting broth of meat and onions heaped on a foundation of soft rice noodles. A little chili sauce adds an extra kick and the hoisin a sweet touch. Both sauces, along with soy sauce, are ready-and-waiting on the table. Adding the extras to taste means that no two bowls of phở are alike.

Traditionally, phở is served with beef or streak. But the phở gà (chicken noodle soup) is an equally delicious variant. The hearty chunks of white-meat chicken are flavorful and abundant, and each bowl is large enough to share.