Pho A.V.

It's easy to appreciate this no-frills Vietnamese restaurant in North Phoenix as much for its mostly satisfying food as for its owners, Phat Pham Tan and his wife, Hien. With the initials standing for America and Vietnam, Tan's two loves, Pho A.V. offers a small menu of traditional Vietnamese dishes that are simple in their composition and wallet-friendly in a way that stretches a meal just about as far as a $10 bill will go. Favorites include pho, fried catfish with ginger sauce, and spring rolls filled with things like grilled pork, mint, and rice vermicelli served alongside Tan's housemade peanut sauce. Read our review.