When you thought we didn't need another restaurant in town, you thought wrong! Rockford welcomes a new Asian restaurant this week with delicious, homestyle Lao dishes - Pho 27.

Photo by Emily Sotakoun
Photo by Emily Sotakoun
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A little insight here, I'm half Lao and my entire life I've been eating authentic Lao dishes.  So, when I saw they were opening this week, you bet I had to give them a try. Let me tell you, they did NOT disappoint!

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The owners, Anne Boutchannha and Sam Somsanith, opened Pho 27 on Sunday, January 23, 2022.  Even though I couldn't speak with them directly, I talked with their son and daughter, Andrew and Melinda, the restaurant managers.

Photo by Emily Sotakoun
Photo by Emily Sotakoun
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I wanted to know what sparked the idea of opening the restaurant this year.  Andrew told me,

My parents always knew they wanted to open a restaurant.  The opportunity for us came in October of 2021.  We wanted to cater to the Lao community and bring homestyle cooking to their table.

 

Photo by Emily Sotakoun
Photo by Emily Sotakoun
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When I tell you Pho 27 has the crispiest, most flavorful sweet sausage (Sai gowk vanh), I'm not exaggerating.  I've had plenty of sweet sausage in my lifetime, but wow does theirs ROCK!

Photo by Emily Sotakoun
Photo by Emily Sotakoun
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Like spicy food? Their papaya salad is like a Super Bowl halftime show in your mouth.  Order sticky rice to dip in the papaya and you'll thank me later!

Photo by Emily Sotakoun
Photo by Emily Sotakoun
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What makes Pho 27 stand out from other Lao style restaurants in the area?

We cook our dishes exactly how we would cook at home.  We priced our menu pretty fairly, too. Compared to other competing restaurants in the Rockford area, our dishes are $3-$4 lower than most.

Photo by Emily Sotakoun
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Their Thai Tea is creamy, sweet, and goes perfect with any dish you order at the restaurant.  I also had to get a Thai Tea to-go because my taste buds were just screaming MORE MORE MORE!

Photo by Emily Sotakoun
Photo by Emily Sotakoun
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Yes, that is a half eaten fresh spring roll in that photo.  I couldn't wait any longer, I had to indulge before my server even put the plate down.  It's that good.  Along with a wide variety of dishes to choose from, this restaurant has a wonderful atmosphere and excellent service.

Photo by Pho 27
Photo by Pho 27
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Pho 27 is open daily 11AM-9PM and closed Tuesdays.  Just a few storefronts down from Oscar's Pub & Grill, you can't miss the bright red sign for Pho 27.

Thanks to Andrew and Melinda for giving me a phenomenal experience for my first time dining in at Pho 27.  If you're looking for a new restaurant to try, I highly recommend you make a stop here!  Check them out on Facebook and Instagram.

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