Order beef pho (pho bo) - it's the classic the whole cuisine is built around: rice noodles and sliced beef in a clear, aromatic broth, served with a plate of fresh basil, bean sprouts, lime, and jalapeño you add yourself. Taste the broth plain first, then build the bowl your way. At Master Pho in Doraville you can try it any hour - the kitchen is open 24/7.
How to eat it like you've done this before
- 1. Taste the broth first. Before adding anything, take a few spoonfuls. The broth is the soul of the bowl - hours of simmering went into it.
- 2. Then build. Tear in basil leaves, add a handful of sprouts, squeeze the lime, and drop in jalapeño slices if you like heat.
- 3. Sauces go in the side dish, not the bowl. Hoisin (sweet) and sriracha (hot) are for dipping the meat. Purists never squirt them into the broth - taste why before you decide.
- 4. Chopsticks in one hand, spoon in the other. Noodles with the sticks, broth with the spoon. Slurping is correct.
Common first-timer questions
Is it spicy? Not unless you make it spicy - the heat is all in your hands. Can I get it without beef? Most pho menus, including Master Pho's, offer chicken and other options. Is one bowl a full meal? Yes - and then some.
Feeling confident? There's a contest for that
Once you love pho, there's a next level: the monthly Pho Challenge at Master Pho - 99 contestants, giant bowls, first one to finish wins. The next one is Sunday, August 2, 2026, 8:00 PM.
Join the Pho Challenge - $35
Only 99 seats · every contestant outside the top 5 gets a $25 gift card