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It is a Vietnamese soup made from a very pungent beef stock flavored with fish sauce, with noodles and different kinds of beef - like flank, tendon, brisket, and rare steak. It can be dressed up with bean sprouts, basil, jalapenos, and lime.

It is amazingly delicious and the best hangover remedy known to man.

Pho is Vietnamese noodle soup. It's so delicious. The broth is clear and very tasty, there is a big pile of rice noodles in the bowl usually with some paper-thin white onions floating on top. Slices of some kind of meat, (I've only had it with beef) is served along with it. To me, the best part is adding all the sides that you are given for the pho-- fresh cilantro leaves, bean sprouts, chilies, lime/lemon wedges and Sriracha and Plum sauces. I don't add plum sauce because I don't like sweet with my spicy.
I go to 2 pho places in Korea and luckily they don't put tripe in it (more authentic hole-in-the-wall places do) Usually you have to get pho at a Pho House or just a vietnamese restaurant. I started eating it in Michigan so wherever you're from, you'll probably be able to find some pho!

Pho is Vietnamese noodle soup. It's so delicious. The broth is clear and very tasty, there is a big pile of rice noodles in the bowl usually with some paper-thin white onions floating on top. Slices of some kind of meat, (I've only had it with beef) is served along with it. To me, the best part is adding all the sides that you are given for the pho-- fresh cilantro leaves, bean sprouts, chilies, lime/lemon wedges and Sriracha and Plum sauces. I don't add plum sauce because I don't like sweet with my spicy.
I go to 2 pho places in Korea and luckily they don't put tripe in it (more authentic hole-in-the-wall places do) Usually you have to get pho at a Pho House or just a vietnamese restaurant. I started eating it in Michigan so wherever you're from, you'll probably be able to find some pho!

Also, pho isn't pronounced like "foe." Instead, it rhymes with "duh," which makes the Pho King restaurant a funny thing to say.

Don't feel bad about not knowing. Now you know and now you must go and try it.

Search for good pho in your area at phofever.com and read the pho primer.

And here's a link to answers to a previous pho-newby's inquiry:
http://www.seriouseats.com/talk/2008/05/what-is-pho.html

For beginning pho eaters, get the "pho tai" (raw thinly sliced beef flank) or "pho bo vien" ( cooked beef meatballs). There are other meat cuts like tendon, tripe, etc. if you want to explore later.

When the bowl of hot noodle soup arrives, add the raw bean sprouts (provided on a separate garnish plate) and, using your chopsticks or fork, quickly flip the meat and bean sprouts under the rice noodles to cook in the hot broth for a minute or two until the beef is cooked through. (Some places offer cooked flank but raw is more tender)

Then take the herbs you want to try, tear into bite size pieces, add to the soup. Squeeze some lime juice, add some black pepper and jalapeno slice if you like it spicier, mix, and dig in. For the meat balls, squeeze some brown hoisin sauce into a plate and dip them in to eat.

Pho is pure comfort food and actually quite light and healthy. Since you are from Texas, check out the Vietnamese neighborhoods in Houston next time you're there. Take it from me, a life-long eater of pho.

What is Pho?
All of the "nectar of the Gods" comments have summed it up pretty nicely.
Don't be scared of tendons or the fattier slices of meat that might come listed on the menu. They make it all the more delicious.

Also, where's the best pho in NYC???

Carol,

You're near one of the best places for pho in Virginia. Too bad I'm on the West coast and don't get to it often. This place is near the top for me (and thousands of others) in Rosslyn, right across from Georgetown. You can take the Metro to Rosslyn station and walk there:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pho-75-arlington#hrid:V9PIWMPqdKgythXBBkBIww/query:pho

Don't let the pictures fool you -- the place gets very crowded. Also recommend Three Sisters for non-pho Vietnamese.

Whoops, I knew I would type that wrong - I meant Pho Real.

@carolrsfMISSESTEXAS

Pho is sofa king good!

Couldn't help myself.

Mmmmmm... Pho.... We have a few outstanding pho restaurants in the Twin Cities - so if anyone feels like freezing to death, then warming back up again with a nice bowl of pho, come on by!