A New Style of Wok-Seared Garlic Beef Pho Arrives in Falls Church - Washingtonian

"Northern phở is generally more austere than southern-style (which is much more common in the US), with a cleaner, more delicately spiced broth, wider flat rice noodles, and a simple garnish of green onions. Chili or garlic vinegar, rather than hoisin sauce, often comes on the side."

"It's topped with thin-sliced ribeye that has been stir-fried with garlic. Phở Thìn has been slowly expanding. After locations opened in Japan and Australia, a Californian named Vicky Nguyen opened the chain's first US location in Orange County's Little Saigon in 2023."

"“This is definitely a new category,” says Pimmie Juntranggur, one of the partners managing the new Falls Church location. “Unless you travel to Orange County, or you actually fly to Vietnam to try this, there's nothing like it.”"

"The garlicky, wok-seared beef topping is unique to Phở Thìn, which still draws long lines at its original Hanoi location. The 5,000-square-foot Virginia location, which takes over two strip mall spaces formerly occupied"

Phở Thìn 13 Lò Đúc opened in April in Falls Church, offering northern-style phở that differs from the more common US versions. The menu emphasizes a cleaner, more delicately spiced broth, wider flat rice noodles, and simple garnish such as green onions. Chili or garlic vinegar is often served on the side instead of hoisin sauce. The signature topping features thin-sliced ribeye stir-fried with garlic and wok-seared, creating a distinct flavor. The chain, founded in 1979 in Hanoi, has expanded internationally, including locations in Japan and Australia, and a first US location in Orange County in 2023. The new Virginia restaurant is supported by local partners and benefits from the region’s large Vietnamese community and proximity to Washington, D.C.

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