Pho 99
93 Niagara Street at City Hall, Buffalo
by Mike Niman & Laura McClusky
Gazette Culinary Arts Critics

The time was not too long ago when one had to brave the traffic, hazards and hassles of the suburbs to find a Vietnamese restaurant. Quite frankly, no meal is worth a trip to Amherst. Times have changes, however, and we are quite happy to review our second Vietnamese restaurant, this one right cross the street from city hall, convenient to the near east side and lower west side.

Pho 99, which also goes by the "American" name, "Fast Food 99," serves up world class healthy Vietnamese food at fast food prices. As one of the only restaurants in town that is both healthy and affordable, it has become a favorite haunt of ours.

Our recommenced meal begins with a "Fresh Spring Roll with Pork" ($1.25). It’s comprised of fresh cabbage, cilantro etc. and a few lean pieces of pork rolled in steamed rice paper and served cold. It is accompanied with peanutty dipping sauce. If you are fat conscious, go light on the sauce for a low fat treat. Our favorite main course is the "Rice Vermicelli with Pork Skewers" ($4.50). It’s a light pasta with a generous serving of three bar-b-qued skewers of pork served over a bed of fresh greens and sprouts with a side of a light sweet and sour sauce. If you are only in the mood for a taste, you can get a single skewer of pork for $1.25.

BBQ is a speciality here, differentiating Pho 99 from Pho Hong on Genesee Street (also recommended - see Gazette, April 29, 1999). The "Grill Boneless Chicken," for example is another BBQ treat with a uniquely oriental taste. Smothered in a mix of soy sauce, vinegar, fruit juice, sugar and Asian spices, this boneless breast of chicken is flame grilled to perfection and served over a bed of rice with a side of crisp marinated cabbage. The sauce is light, again keeping fat content to a minimum while not skimping on taste.

Pho 99 also serves up a host of Japanese Teriyaki dishes ($4.50-$7.25), meal sized noodle soups ($4.50-$5.50) which are served with fresh basil leaves and sprouts, as well as a host of chicken and seafood dishes such as "Salmon Stir-Fry Teriyaki" ($6.25). They also sell shakes and fruit drinks including our favorite, avocado milkshake ($2.50), made from fresh ripe avocados and ice cream!0

Pho 99 is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner until 10 PM on weekdays and Sundays, midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.