Birria Phở from Pho Hoa + Jazen Tea in San Jose

Now here's a chain that I haven't seen in ages. I had to come to this specific dual-branded outlet at Lion Plaza today because they are one of the few shops around here doing that dish above (1834 Tully Road, 408-238-1481). Specifically, it's birria phở, or birria de consomé combined with rice noodles and the usual range of phở accompaniments. The combination of Mexican and Vietnamese ingredients sounds like the epitome of San Jose to me, and yet it's surprisingly not common at all, perhaps becuase birria ramen is simpler. Even Tacos y Birria el Chole didn't serve it anymore today despite my previous sighting.

Anyway, the bowl was an interesting break from typical phở, as The broth was not as spicy as its red hue made it out to be, but it was savory and fun to drink with things like bean sprouts. The meat was cut into gigantic cubes that were tough in some parts and yet fatty in others. Any meat that was attached to that bone was obviously the tastiest, but it required hands-on work. Either way, I wonder how Taqueria Azteca up in Dublin does it, as they would be approaching it from the perspective of a Mexican restaurant rather than a Vietnamese one.