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No more trips to Sherwood: Newberg gets its own pho place
Written by Colin Staub of Portland Tribune
New business — Just Pho You opens for business in Springbrook Plaza, offers traditional Vietnamese dishes
A Vietnamese pho restaurant, the first of its kind in Newberg, has opened its doors at Springbrook Plaza.
Just Pho You opened in November and serves various Vietnamese dishes with an emphasis on pho (pronounced “fa”), a soup generally made with noodles, broth, herbs and meat.
The restaurant is run by Thao Tran and her husband, Tuan Vo.
“It’s a new business,” Tran said, “and a new adventure for me and my husband.”
Tran is originally from Vietnam, where she lived until she and her husband came to the United States in 1989. She ran a breakfast restaurant in Vietnam, but said operating a restaurant in the two countries is a very different job, especially with local regulations.
“Over here you have to apply for licenses and make sure it’s safe,” she said. “It puts health first. I like that.”
When Tran moved to the states, she came directly to Oregon. She had family here previously, who helped sponsor her trip. She said she liked the state immediately.
“There are four seasons here,” she said. “And people aren’t rushing around all the time.”
She lived in Portland, taking cosmetology classes at Mount Hood Community College, before moving to Tigard and working in a beauty salon. It’s a big change from hairdressing to running a restaurant, she said, but she is enjoying it for a few reasons in particular.
“(The restaurant) provides work for a few people. It brings Vietnamese food to Newberg, introduces it to the community,” she said. “And all kinds of people come here. I love to see them choose our place to relax. We’ve even had people come in for birthdays already. I love it.”
Asked to describe Vietnamese food, Tran emphasized the healthy ingredients.
“There’s a lot of herbs,” she said. “A lot of soup, rice. Not so much grease.”
As far as future plans for the business, Tran, who plays guitar, hopes to have some live music in the restaurant.
“People could come, relax, listen to the music,” she said. “And maybe I could even play a little too.”
Just Pho You is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, at 1012 N. Springbrook Road.
Source: PortlandTribune.com