When the sky is grey and the chilly fog rolls in off the bay, there is one thing that is guaranteed to make me feel better: a big fat bowl of hot phò steaming in my face.

After trolling Little Saigon in search of the perfect bowl of phò tai, I am excited to report that Bodega Bistro has got just what I need. Hands down, the best noodles around, their thin rice noodles are cooked al dente, the rich broth tastes as if it has been simmering all day, the strips of rare steak are tender and fresh, and the traditional southern Vietnamese style toppings of green onions, coriander leaves (a.k.a. cilantro), bean sprouts, Thai basil, and lime wedges adds a bright freshness to this bowl of yum. Put together a little dipping sauce of hoisin and sriracha for your meat, and you are ready to start slurping away (unlike at some other establishments where they don’t even offer hoisin upon request!…ahem ahem…Turtle Tower…).