Pho offers cultural soup

Pho, pronounced "fuh," is a fragrant beef noodle soup unique to Vietnam.  The dish consists of rice noodles and variety of meats mixed in a steamy beef broth.

The soup is eaten with fresh vegetables, such as bean sprouts, Asian rosemary, basil, lime and green chili.

"Pho is very popular in Vietnam," said Ha Mach, the manager of Pho 54 restaurant of Long Beach. "It is more like breakfast food, but can be dinner food too."

Pho originated in North Vietnam and became popular in the South as North Vietnamese moved to the South seeking freedom in the 1950s.  Now it is becoming popular even here in Long Beach.

Pho was introduced to South Vietnam in 1954, the year Vietnam was divided in two parts.  Pho 54 was named after that year to commemorate the introduction.

The first Pho 54 restaurant opened in Long Beach in 1988, Mach said.

There were a few Vietnamese restaurants in Long Beach back then, and restaurants went into and fell out of business.

Pho 54 is among those that survived.

On a table at Pho 54, there are hot chili sauce, Hoisin sauce, fish sauce, pepper and salt.

For more than 10 years, Pho 54 has grown to have six branches: one in Long Beach, Rosemead, Pomona and three in Little Saigon in Westminster.

Pho 54 is one of the oldest and most popular pho restaurants in Long Beach.

The restaurant specializes in other foods as well, such as Com (rice), Bun (vermicelli), Mi (egg noodle), and several kinds of beverages and desserts.

Spring rolls and Vietnamese coffee are other common items to order.

Pho 54 is located on 1036 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, and is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.