"Pho Appetite" serves Vietnamese cuisine

by Ann Hoang

How would you like to have access to authentic Vietnamese food whenever you wanted? This means pho, rice plates, Vietnamese desserts, and more at the mercy of your lips. Also, all of this at no cost to you? Is this a dream come true? For Senior Victoria Van, this is a reality.

“Pho Appetite” is the Van Family’s newly opened restaurant in Fremont. It is family owned and operated: Van’s aunt is the head chef of “Pho Appetite” and her mother and father are the managers, Van said. On top of that, Van also contributes in the family business.

“I worked there every day over the summer, but I don’t get paid.” Van said. “I don’t usually like waitressing, so I help out in the [kitchen].”

Despite the lack of pay, there are still benefits to having the restaurant, Van said. These include having “endless pho,” and the freedom to consume whatever food she desires on the menu at no charge. She often orders the “pho chao,” and enjoys many of the desserts offered.

Ever since the grand opening of Pho Appetite, the family has been victim to a very busy schedule, according to Van. For example, she rarely sees her parents. As a result, she spends a large amount of her time at a friend’s house until her father picks her up at night, Van said. She considers this a downside to having a family owned restaurant and has come to a conclusion: “[A restaurant] has its perks and is nice and all, but I would rather not have it.”