Mo' Pho

It's a mystery to me that noodle bars, in particular those specialising in umami-rich soup noodles, or 'pho', have never taken off here in the same way they have in the States.

You'd think there would be more of a call for the ultimate in cheap, healthy comfort food, but bored of Wagamama, uninspired by the New Culture Revolution and, with exception to a few East London Vietnamese venues, one of the few places I knew of centrally to get a facial steam and hangover cure all in one was Hanover Square's Japanese Sakura.

Then, tantalisingly, about two years ago, Alan Yau (who started Wagamama back in the day) was rumoured to be opening a new-look noodle bar just off Carnaby Street. We've been waiting, chopsticks at the ready, ever since and finally, at the end of this month, Cha Cha Moon will be ready for its close up, offering steaming bowls of, amongst other things, corn fed chicken and Peking-style vermicelli noodle soups - with a super-slick interior and computerised 'iPhone'-like touch screen ordering system to boot.

If you can't wait 'til then, the Noho branch of Pho opens tomorrow, where you can get your fix of Hanoi's favourite fast food, including an impressive range of traditional beef pho plus spicy salads and rolls.

I slurp, therefore I am.

Cha Cha Moon - opens end of March
15-21 Ganton Street, W1F 9BN - 020 7297 9800
Pho - opens tomorrow
3 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 8AX - 020 7436 0111

by SL

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Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved.