Phở Kim Long on Story Road serves one of the most popular bowls of phở in a city with one of the largest Vietnamese populations in the United States. The dining room is enormous, the menu runs to dozens of varieties of phở and bún, and the lines at weekend lunch confirm what the locals already know.
Order the phở tái nạm (rare beef with brisket) or the phở đặc biệt (everything) for a classic introduction; the broth is rich, the noodles fresh, and the side plate of herbs heroic. East Santa Clara Street and Story Road together form one of the country's best Vietnamese food corridors — Phở Kim Long is a reliable place to start exploring.