A new restaurant in Porters Neck pays tribute to the culinary traditions of the owner’s mother.
 
Pho Vanhly Noodle House, at 208 Porters Neck Road in the Oak Landing shopping center, offers a variety of Asian selections, but its specialty is pho, a traditional Southeast Asian rice noodle soup. Vanhly is the first name of owner Mone Somsnith’s mother, so the restaurant name translates roughly as “Vanhly’s Soup.”
 
“This was her dream, to open a noodle restaurant,” manager Kay Pichetshote said of Somsnith. While the location has been under development for some time, COVID-19-related problems in getting equipment delayed the opening, Pichetshote said.
 
Open since Nov. 7, Pho Vanhly is the sister establishment to Somsnith’s other restaurant, Umaii, located just across Market Street. Umaii serves Japanese and Thai cuisine; Pho Vanhly specializes in Vietnamese and Laotian fare. But despite its name, there's more than soup on the menu. In addition to several varieties of pho, diners can choose from other noodle dishes, rice dishes and Southeast Asian favorites like spring rolls, banh mi and lettuce wraps.
 
“Everything is made to order; everything is fresh,” Pichetshote said, adding customers can ask for options that are not on the menu.
 
The restaurant also offers a selection of sakes as well as beer and wine.
 
Pho Vanhly is open Tuesdays-Sundays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Takeout is available as well. Menu updates, specials and other news are posted to the restaurant’s Facebook page, or call for information at 821-0127.