The banana blossom with beef tendon salad ($9.95) was an interesting combination.

These were somewhat generic but tasty, with the flat triangular egg rolls being the best of the bunch. Spring roll halves, battered fried shrimp, chicken wings and triangular-shaped egg rolls come in four cuts, each with a viscous fish sauce and sweet and spicy dipping sauce. For small groups, the Tick Tock appetizer platter ($14.95) is good to share. Al dente noodles evenly covered in butter garlic sauce and paired with juicy grilled pork is a sure winner. Pho Tick Tock has a knack for fusion style dishes, and the buttery garlic noodles with grilled pork ($9.95) was excellent. Once is probably enough when it comes to deconstructed pho, as the assembled version offered here costs $9.95 and will give the same taste. It was fun to dip everything in the broth, and the stone bowl kept the broth hot for longer, but the broth was on the bland side. The idea is to add items to the broth as you eat for maximum freshness with each bite. A single combo meant for one person comes with broth served in a stone bowl, noodles in a separate bowl, and a neatly arranged display of meats and sauces. I figured there must be something to this hot-pot style pho if it warrants a $15 price tag, compared to the average $7-8 for regular size pho at most restaurants. But the Do-It-Yourself craze never fails to attract curious eaters, and I’m no exception.Īlmost 2 years old, Pho Tick Tock has been well received. Imagine my skepticism when I learned of Pho Tick Tock in north San Jose, serving deconstructed pho which they call “hot pot style.” I could hear my ancestors rolling over in their graves. The only ingredients served on the side are bean sprouts, basil and a lime wedge. Pho’s popularity relies heavily on the comfort of being served in a piping hot bowl with the requested combination of meats layered on top of fresh noodles. But one dish I never expected to see deconstructed: pho, the beloved Vietnamese rice noodle soup. It typically doesn’t fare well in terms of flavor and is inexplicably more expensive than the assembled version. Once in awhile, I come across a restaurant attempting a deconstructed dish.

Pho tick tock