11/21/17
Coconut Curry Pho at Urbanbelly In Chicago, IL. Anyone who knows me well knows that I love soups, and I’m always looking for a good soup when I dine out, whether as a starter to my meal or a full meal in itself. This terrific dish is a blend of various ethnic cuisines and cultures - Vietnamese, Thai, Laotian, and Burmese. The rice noodles, bean sprouts, and cilantro remind me of Vietnamese Pho while the coconut milk and curry remind me of different dishes in Laos (Laksa), Thailand (Khao Soi), and Burma (Ono Kau Swe). The result is a medley of flavors that will have you slurping every last drop from the big bowl it comes in. I love the consistency of the broth - light enough that you can taste the sweetness of the coconut milk and at the same time not too thick and creamy like you find with some coconut milk based soups (making the broth too heavy for my liking). The spices in the soup give it great flavor without being so spicy that you have to hydrate yourself constantly (the red/orange color in the broth is a great sign that it’s seasoned just right instead of too white or yellow in color). I also love that the meat in this dish is ground lemongrass chicken, which makes it not only unique, but complements the broth, the spices, and the overall dish really well. Urbanbelly has two locations in the Chicago area and is run by renowned chef Bill Kim, who we were fortunate to meet and talk with when we dined there. Love his approach and enthusiasm for food! I also loved their Belly Dog, Phat Rice, and Soft Serve dessert. Needless to say, I’ll be back!!