What does Vietnamese food taste like?!

What does Vietnamese food taste like?

A new Vietnamese restaurant has opened up in our town. I would like to try it out but I have no idea what to order or what the food will taste like. Is it similar to Thai food? Or more like Chinese food? Or more like Asian fusion because of French influence?

I hear a lot about Pho. What is that?

This local restaurant serves steak baguette sandwiches. Is that a popular dish at Vietnamese restaurants?

Thanks so much.

Regards,
mari

If you ordered 'traditonal Vietnamese food' it would probably be WAY TOO HOT for you to eat. Pho is a 'noodle soup' with meat or fish in it, and it is served with mung bean sprouts, fresh basil, and lime on the side. You put those into the bowl (just the juice of the lime, of course) right before you eat it. Pho is NEVER hot, and if it's made correctly is THE PERFECT SOUP to start your 'Vietnamese eating adventure' with. The 'Steak baguette' sandwiches are also Vietnamese, but with a 'French influence' ... and those are also very good if you want a 'fusion' food experience. Generally, I'd say ask for everything you order with 'NO HOT SPICES added' ... most Vietnamese restaurants will do that, and you can order the 'hot spices' to be served 'on the side' in a small plate or bowl and 'add your own' ... but let me tell you a story, first ...
I lived in a Vietnamese monastery in Los Angeles, and Suto (Vietnamese for 'teacher') did most of the cooking. When we sat down to the table, we always had to ask him 'How many fire trucks should we call?' The 'answer' was always 3-8 ... the Vietnamese eat EXTREMELY HOT FOOD for American tastes. Since this is a restaurant, it's probably NOT as 'hot' but it still could seem 'very hot' to you ... so ASK how 'hot' the dish is, and see if you can't order it with 'no hotness' and the 'hot spices' on the side ... and GOOD EATING! I still love Vietnamese food ... 35 years later!