It seems my prayers to have more Pho places open in Shanghai have been answered. New Pho restaurants are popping up all over town and no one is more pleased that I for such a thing to happen, as it means my epic "Pho Quest" will continue -- indefinitely it would appear. Having already read some decent reviews of pho king, I was eagerly anticipating sampling their rendition of the Vietnamese classic. With a clean and stylish logo and restaurant interiors, expectations were sky high. pho king is how I imagine a good restaurant should be: simple and to the point.

The menu itself gave me further cause to nod my head in approval, offering as it did nothing but the basic Pho with some simple rice dishes. It's all very fair and affordable, and is in the 18-25rmb range. More nodding of the head as I await my order: the standard beef Pho and a Vietnamese coffee.

Disappointment set in right when the Vietnamese coffee came out, which in my estimation, was too thin and weak. If it's going to be priced at the same level as an actual bowl of Pho, the coffee had better be done right. Ah damn, I ruminated to myself, more coffee at home. Disappointment increased with the presentation of the condiments to the main event, which were comprised of a few measly pieces of lettuce and some bean sprouts. Where was the basil and cilantro? And if you will permit me to bitch even further, I found the chilies to be really weak...

The all-important Pho soup I found to be flavorless. Or rather, perhaps the flavor was hidden somewhere in the thick layer of fat that accompanied the dish. I know some people actually ask for more fat, but that should only be given if asked for...

My final verdict is thumb's down. Go only if you've got a gun pointed to your head. Well, maybe that's a little harsh; if you're not really picky about authentic Pho and are looking for an easy lunch, you could do worse. If you are a pedantic Pho lover like myself, however, truly give it a miss.