Vietnamese Kitchen · Since 2017
Authentic Vietnamese Food in West Des Moines
Slow-simmered broth, fresh herbs, and recipes we have been cooking on University Avenue since 2017. Whether you want a deep bowl of pho on a cold Iowa afternoon or a bright, cool bun bowl in July, this is the part of our table we are proudest of.
- 8950 University Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50266
- (515) 300-2260
- Open Mon, Wed, Thu 11am to 9pm · Fri & Sat 11am to 10pm · Sun 11am to 7:30pm · Closed Tuesdays
- Free parking right out front
What Makes Vietnamese Cooking Different
Vietnamese food is built on balance rather than heat. Instead of arriving pre-seasoned, a Vietnamese dish shows up at your table with the herbs, lime, chili and sprouts on the side. You finish it yourself, to your own taste. That is why no two bowls of pho at the same table taste quite the same.
The backbone of it all is the broth. Ours is simmered low and slow with beef bones and aromatics until it turns clear and deeply savory, the kind of broth you cannot rush and cannot fake. Fresh herbs do the rest: Thai basil, cilantro, mint, and bean sprouts, added at the last second so they stay bright.
If you are new to Vietnamese food, start with pho. If you already know pho, the bun bowls are where regulars go next.
Pho: Our Namesake Bowl
What is pho?
Pho (pronounced fuh, not foh) is a Vietnamese noodle soup: flat rice noodles and thinly sliced protein in a clear, long-simmered broth, served with a side plate of herbs, lime, bean sprouts and chili so you can season it yourself. It is breakfast food in Vietnam and comfort food everywhere else.
Our pho bowls
| Dish | What's in it |
|---|---|
| P1. Pho Shobu | Our combo and the one to order first: rare steak, meatballs, brisket, flank, tendon, tripe |
| P9. Pho Tai | Rare steak, cooked at the table by the heat of the broth |
| P4. Pho Chin | Well-done brisket |
| P18. Pho Ga | Steamed chicken with beef broth |
| P17. Pho Tom | Shrimp pho, five shrimp |
| P20. Pho Tofu | Fried tofu and mixed vegetables |
| P21. Pho Chay | Mixed vegetables in a vegetarian broth |
| SP23. Superstar Pho | Mixed vegetables, vegetarian broth |
| Pho Sizzling Bowl | Served in a hot stone bowl with the meats on the side |
How to eat a bowl of pho
- Taste the broth first, before you add anything. That is the dish.
- Tear the basil and mint and press them under the surface so they release.
- Add bean sprouts a few at a time. They should still snap.
- Squeeze the lime, then add chili or hoisin on a spoon, not into the whole bowl, so you don’t lose the broth you came for.
Bun Bowls: Pho's Cooler Cousin
A bun bowl is the same vermicelli noodles with no broth: grilled meat over cool rice noodles, fresh vegetables and herbs, with a bowl of sauce to pour over the top. Lighter than pho, and the better order on a warm day or when you want something closer to a salad than a soup.
| Dish | What's in it |
|---|---|
| V1. | Grilled pork, shrimp, pork egg roll & vermicelli |
| V4. | Grilled chicken, egg roll & vermicelli |
| V6. | Grilled shrimp (5), egg roll & vermicelli |
| V11. | Grilled salmon, pork egg roll & vermicelli |
| V7. Grilled Supreme Combo | Shrimp, pork, beef, chicken, egg roll |
Pho or bun bowl? Pho is hot, soupy and restorative. A bun bowl is cool, grilled and a little smoky. Same noodles, opposite experience. If you are coming in with two people who can’t agree, order one of each and trade halfway.
Fresh Rolls & Vietnamese Appetizers
The difference people ask about most: spring rolls at Pho Shobu are fresh and soft, wrapped in rice paper and served cold. Egg rolls are fried and crisp. Both are worth your time; they are just not the same thing.
- Vietnamese Spring Rolls: steamed shrimp, vermicelli, herbs, house sauce & peanuts
- Fresh Garden Rolls: vermicelli, cucumber, cilantro, mint, bean sprouts, carrot (vegetarian)
- Fresh Unagi Rolls: cooked eel, avocado, cucumber, carrot, sesame seeds
- Spider Rolls: crispy crab, lettuce, avocado, carrot, cucumber, sweet soy sauce
- Cali Spring Rolls: cream cheese, cucumber, carrot, avocado, seaweed
- Pork Egg Rolls: ground pork & vegetables, sweet chili (2 pc)
- Saigon Shrimps: crispy jumbo shrimp, sweet chili sauce
- Crispy Pork Belly: aged pork belly glazed with house sauce
Vegetarian, Vegan & Gluten-Free Vietnamese
Vietnamese cooking is unusually easy to eat well on a restricted diet, because rice noodles and rice paper are naturally gluten-free and the herbs do the heavy lifting.
- Vegetarian: Pho Chay (P21) and Superstar Pho (SP23) are built on a vegetarian broth, not a beef broth with the meat left out. Pho Tofu (P20) and Fresh Garden Rolls are also meat-free.
- Gluten-free: rice noodles and rice paper are gluten-free by nature. Ask your server which sauces to swap. We will walk you through it.
- Tell us what you need. Say it when you order and we will tell you honestly what we can and cannot adjust in our kitchen.
Visit Us in West Des Moines
Pho Shobu has been on University Avenue in West Des Moines since 2017, a few minutes from Jordan Creek and easy to reach from Clive, Urbandale, Waukee and downtown Des Moines.
Address: 8950 University Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone: (515) 300-2260
Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu 11am to 9pm · Tue closed · Fri & Sat 11am to 10pm · Sun 11am to 7:30pm
Parking: Free, right out front
Also here: Dine-in, pickup, delivery via EatFuti, full bar with imported beer and sake, kids menu, office catering and large-group reservations
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Vietnamese Menu
Is Pho Shobu an authentic Vietnamese restaurant?
Yes. Vietnamese cooking is the heart of our kitchen and the reason for our name. We simmer our own pho broth in house and serve our herbs fresh and uncooked, the way it is done in Vietnam. We also serve Thai, Laotian and sushi under the same roof.
How do you pronounce "pho"?
“Fuh,” with a short vowel. It rhymes closer to duh than to foe.
What is the difference between pho and a bun bowl?
Pho is a hot noodle soup. A bun bowl uses the same vermicelli noodles with no broth, topped with grilled meat and fresh vegetables and served cool with sauce on the side.
Do you have vegetarian pho?
Yes. Pho Chay (P21) and Superstar Pho (SP23) use a vegetarian broth, and Pho Tofu (P20) is made with fried tofu and mixed vegetables.
Is Vietnamese food gluten-free?
Much of it is. Rice noodles and rice paper contain no wheat. Some sauces do, so tell us when you order and we will point you to the safe choices.
Can I order Vietnamese food for pickup or delivery in West Des Moines?
Yes. Order pickup online or call (515) 300-2260. Delivery is available through EatFuti.
What should I order the first time?
P1. Pho Shobu, the combo bowl we named the restaurant after. If you would rather not have soup, start with V1, grilled pork and shrimp over vermicelli.
Where are you located?
8950 University Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50266, with free parking out front.
Hungry for pho?
Order pickup online or call us at (515) 300-2260. We are on University Ave with free parking out front.
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