SOFTSHELL CRAB at Pho 88
Drum Hill Rotary, Lowell, MA
978-452-7300

Happily for all of us faithful customers, when Pho 88 expanded from its tiny 10 table layout into the space next to it, adding a full bar, table-top cooking booths, and many more tables in the dining room, the quality has remained at an all time high. (One thing I always loved about Pho 88 is the fantastic service and cooking speed in the kitchen.)

My husband habitually orders the (xe lua) extra large beef noodle soup with rare beef, well-done brisket, beef flank, tendon and tripe, with a #33 Vietnamese beer, and we like to start the meal with a soft shell crab appetizer.  

In Vietnamese this dish is known as cua lot, which is soft shell crab sauteed with ginger and scallions. It arrives on a bed of mixed greens and hot peppers, sectioned into two large pieces. My eyes roll back in my head as I bite into this crispy, oil infused crustacean. Politeness goes by the wayside as we dig with our chopsticks to shovel all the bits and morsels of crab til its finality. I am happy to report the crab neither tastes or smells, well, fishy.

I highly recommend #75, curry chicken and vegetables (ga xao curi) as an entree, and the seafood medley  of shrimp, scallops, squid and vegetables in a delicate sauce if I’m in the mood for a noodle dish.

Barbara D

Westford, MA