This place cured me.
It was 2014, and I was doing the long distance thing with the then-girlfriend (now-wife). I was flying in on a turbulent mess of a flight via JetBlue from JFK to spend a few days together with the lady. I almost cancelled the flight because, in the days leading up to it, I was sick as a dog. Fluids were coming out of every orifice, in varying smells, shades, and textures, and I had lost close to ten pounds from this deluge. Still, I pressed on. Ultimately, the plane thudded and bounced onto the icy Buffalo tarmac, and after getting my bags at the carousel I found my girl and we hopped in her car.
Her: Wow. You don't look good. Let's get you home.
Me: (hoarsely) pho....
Her: What?
Me: (hoarsely, though with more determination) Pho!!
And so, she drove me to 99 Fast Food, because I'd been there before, and she knew I liked it. I slumped into one of their booths, and ordered the usual Pho Thai.
[SIDENOTE: They used to have an XL size on the menu, which is what I ordered on this fateful day. Now they only list a Small and a Large on the menu, but legend has it they still have some of the jumbo bowls stashed somewhere in their kitchen.]
The soup came out, and for the first time in what seemed like ages, my poor, abused GI tract let out a small gurgle of hunger.
My mouth watered. The beefy, sweet, herbaceous, inviting aroma grabbed me by the nostrils like some bullying apparition and pulled my face to within inches of the Pho. I inhaled deeply.
I had...hope.
And for the next 20 minutes, I slurped, chewed, and swallowed my way through that entire gargantuan bowl. Not a speck of black pepper or broth remained. It was decimated.
And then I asked for more.
And then I ate another bowl. Down to the last drop.
And then...I felt good. I finally, immediately, almost as though a veil of malaise had been lifted suddenly...felt well again.
The Pho cured me. It was nothing short of a miracle.
[SECOND SIDENOTE: They totally should've made this feat into an eating challenge. The staff were impressed.]
I love this place.
I've eaten here more than I've eaten at any other restaurant. I'll come here for birthdays. I'll eat here when I'm feeling unwell. Hell, my baby boy's first taste of something that wasn't baby food was right here!
I load the broth with red chili paste, basil, and a squeeze of lime. I squirt sriracha and hoisin onto a plate and dunk my meat (giggity) separately, so as not to mess with the broth. You like putting a pound of bean sprouts and a metric ton of Hoisin directly into your bowl? By all means, please do! The Pho doesn't judge. It welcomes all for whomever they are.
Don't want pho? The BBQ pork with rice, shredded pork, and egg is delicious. The vermicelli with Vietnamese eggrolls is great too, albeit a little too lettuce-y for me. The Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk is great. But, if you're not getting pho, you're doing yourself a disservice. It heals from within.
Overall: Quality may range between good and exquisite, but it's always good enough. Some say this place ain't what it used to be, but I keep coming back for more, because it's dependable and it's good. Easily 5 stars. God bless America, and God bless 99 Fast Food. May it outlive us all. read more