- Home to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- And also an ALDI on S. Thompson St.
- Loosely known as “The Poultry Capital of the World”.
With a population estimated at just under 80,000 people, 35% of Springdalers might claim Hispanic or Latino roots, while at least 2% boast Asian descent. And Springdale is growing--as anyone with a phone book or car could tell you--but would you ever guess that this humble city would be the melting pot for anything other than queso?
Fayettevillians, a food fusion is making waves at our approximate north! We repeat: waves! Korean, Mexican, and even White people agree: when you mix nachos and eastern flavors into one colorful plate, people will get hungry. Add cheese and hot sauce? Oh snap! We've got a full-fledged ethnic revolution on our hands! West Coast, eat your hearts out...
On a Sunday afternoon, approximately 1pm, An Englishman, a Chinese Man, and an Indian (along with some friends), entered So Pho Real restaurant, fully expecting to be overwhelmed by the blending of multiple cultures. Little did they know that this blending would come with a side of fries, a monstrous bowl of soup, and sticky fingers.
Our rating system is structured within four primary categories: Atmosphere, Food, Lunch Bargain, and Service. We base our scores out of a possible ten points per category--typical stuff, we know. But this is where our ratings diverge! Sure, we count up the numbers, but they don't have so much to do with the restaurant's overall score. That, friends, is our pride and joy: a celebrity tribute, where we define a restaurant's personality with a famous person's name. Cool, huh? Ya, we know.
Located at 909 S. Pleasant Street, So Pho Real sits snugly within Springdale, while remaining comfortably nearby its Fayetteville neighbors. And that's exactly how you feel when entering this modest restaurant, like a neighbor. What was once a house is now a restaurant, yet you can still feel hospitality in the low ceilings, the cozy rooms, and in the lingering smell of bubbling goodness from the kitchen. Yes, this place remains a home, so make sure to catch up with friends, watch the latest game, and satiate your burgeoning appetite.
The staff (or perhaps the family) sits by the front door, welcoming you inside as if you're one of their own. They're watching whichever NFL game is on, it doesn't matter. Because you're fully involved in their bantering, their good-natured commentary. You eat to the sound of your neighbors enjoying themselves.
On this Sunday afternoon, we were shepherded into our own private alcove, with tables conjoined to seat up to eight. There was ample room for the copious plates that we knew were forthcoming. It was as if they knew Faylunchin was coming, and reserved us our very own spot (We hope you're taking notes, other restaurants!). Afterwards, we were attended to like regulars who'd been visiting for years--keep in mind that So Pho Real has only been open a couple of months.
And we'll tell you this: do not walk into So Pho Real with any game plan in mind. Why waste your time trying to categorize an experience that will excite you each and every time. It just might be the cook who drops off your order, checking to see if it's to your liking. Or you just might have your glasses filled by the owner, who brags about her homemade noodles...which we're looking forward to tasting someday. In any case, you ARE a part of a fusion that transcends good food, becoming a complete home-away-from-home experience. SCORE 8/10
Bathrooms
We believe bathrooms are crucial enough to be a subcategory of Atmosphere, deserving of its own score. The bathrooms at So Pho Real are all you need when sitting down to a full table of food. As Harvey reports, they are clean, functional, and not far away. SCORE 5/10
So Pho Real is the kind of restaurant that encourages the extraordinary. Why settle for a standard soft-shell taco, when you can add seared bulgogi pork? Honey Sriracha wings are fried so delectably that Buffalo Wild Wings becomes a forlorn fantasy. Maybe you went there once, maybe you didn't, who cares. And, of course, the bowls of pho are so large that you feel like Jack at the end of his beanstalk climb.
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum! We smell the blood of an Englishman…who happened to order a Porkbelly Bulgogi Rice Plate, plus three egg rolls. A Chinese man, truly in his comfort zone, resorted to a steaming P1 bowl (brisket, meatballs, tripe, shrimp, steak, tendon), a Porkbelly Beef Taco, and a mountain of Bulgogi Beef Nachos. The Indian, woe to be outmatched, thought a Porkbelly Bahn Mi sandwich, and Honey Chipotle Wings would appease his gigantic hunger.
But we warn you wary readers, at So Pho Real it's easy to allow your eyes to get the better of your bellies. Somewhere between your first bite and your last you will get full! Persevere! If there's any food worth finishing, it's food fusion. At Faylunchin, we can't imagine a time when this food will ever grow tiresome or unexciting, and we hope that as you visit, you'll let the extraordinary become the standard. SCORE 8.5/10
Qi's side Nope, Qi didn't have any special sides to wow! you with today. Why would he when So Pho Real's entire menu is his Neverland? Trust us, folks. If you give Qi twenty bucks and leave him at So Pho Real for a few hours, he will be a lost boy. LUNCH BARGAIN There's no other way to say it, but: you get what you pay for at So Pho Real. And what you get, as Harvey puts it, is "a twist on the classics." Obviously, Kimchi and Bulgogi aren't as "classical Arkansas" as, say, collard greens and cornbread, but I think we can all agree that large portions are undoubtedly an Arkansas pastime! Especially when including buffalo wings, melted cheese, and tortilla chips. No, So Pho Real doesn't have a specific lunch menu. In fact, with such a jam-packed menu, we're not even sure if there's room for one. But that doesn't mean there are no notable specials. In fact, if you have a Facebook account, take a look at So Pho Real's page, where you'll find their weekend special consisting of a jumbo pot of noodles (there are four variations, differing per weekend). You can literally plan your weekend around whatever So Pho Real's got cooking, and that ain't a bad thing! SCORE 7/10 |
You can't rate So Pho Real's service without taking their Atmosphere and Food into account. It's all a mixed bag of goodness! Our server was new to the joint, but friendly, attentive, and even took our group photo for the blog. The owner came by and chatted with us while we waited on our food, which by the way, only took about 20 minutes! Did you see how many plates of food we ordered?! That's ridiculously fast.
We can't say it enough, fans: So Pho Real is wonderful. You'll spend your time away wondering why you're not there. SCORE 9/10
We know we took a long time pumping this last review out. We're sorry! It took us this long to narrow down a proper celebrity score. When factoring in the multitude of positive attributes that So Pho Real brings to the table, it's easy to get overwhelmed. First, you must consider the fusion. Korean food, Mexican food, Vietnamese, Thai, Laotian...you might as well just encompass the entire Southern and Eastern Hemispheres. Second, you have to consider the American flair, that homeliness and hospitality that we love to brag about. And don't forget the humongous plates we love to scarf down! Third, well that's the convenience of the place. So Pho Real's in Springdale, not too far away, and the prices are generous.
So, a fusion of cultures, huge plates and ferocious hunger, mixed with utter convenience. Easy. Faylunchin grants So Pho Real a celebrity score of....
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AND as an added bonus, for reading our entire blog, here's a video of us stacking buffalo wings...Enjoy! (WARNING: There might be some bad language)