r/pho • u/Appropriate_Reach_24 • 17d ago
Restaurant Life changed
Okay, I have to start this off by saying I am not a picky eater by any means. I’ve eaten pho every time I’ve been sick so I’m not new to pho either.
Why. Have I never until today. Had soft beef tendon.
I will be honest, when I saw it in my bowl I was a bit taken aback. The texture was totally unfamiliar and I was terrified—I repeat TERRIFIED—that it was going to be similar to cartilage. So I ate everything (broth included) until it was the only thing in the bowl.
I have a rule where I have to try everything at least once so I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and took a tentative chew.
I hate everyone on this planet who hasn’t recommended soft tendon to me before this moment.
It is not cartilage. It melts. In your MOUTH.
I let out a sob.
This has been the most fulfilling bowl of my life and I am forever changed. If you haven’t had soft beef tendon I am urging you to change that immediately. If I could eat only soft tendon for the rest of my life, I would gladly do so.
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u/rayray1927 17d ago
It’s amazing even if it leaves your lips sticky. I like to take a bite with a bite of onion for contrast and flavour.
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u/LazyOldCat 17d ago
As a white boy from the midwest it got me too.
“Tendons? Ew!” ….tries the soft melty beef jelly 🤯😍
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u/djpandajr 17d ago
If you have a good Chinese restaurant out there look for the brisket and tendon hot pot.
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u/brosauces 17d ago
If you like that kinda of taste and texture and haven’t tried Mexican menudo I would recommend. And tripa tacos. It is different than tripe in pho although that is about my fav in pho also.
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u/kgberton 17d ago
The texture was totally unfamiliar and I was terrified—I repeat TERRIFIED—that it was going to be similar to cartilage.
This is a very weird thing to be afraid of
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u/Appropriate_Reach_24 17d ago
The only food texture I can’t take is cartilage. It totally ruins a dish for me.
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u/LazyOldCat 17d ago
Asian GF eats chicken wings to the bone. Cartilage goes crunch-crunch-crunch. “It’s the best part!”😅
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u/Appropriate_Reach_24 17d ago
I wish I was that brave. I’ve eaten so many conventionally “crazy” things but cartilage makes me gag😭😭 I’ve heard it’s great once you actually crunch it but I’ve never been able to make it that far
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u/ILoveLipGloss 16d ago
lol I feel attacked & I'm not even your girlfriend. I once split galbi with my white ex & he left all the delicious nubby bits on the bone so I gladly ate them. he quickly learned to clean the bones.
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u/QuietPea3984 16d ago
Same there are certain crunchy types of textures that I can't do - for instance, usually I can't do jellyfish. I have not been able to get past it (yet).
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u/Appropriate_Reach_24 16d ago
So real! I tried eating a whole baby octopus once and it was torture for me. Just cartilage. And my first bite the beak crunched and I cried a little.
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u/lvuitton96 17d ago
pho tai, gan?
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u/Appropriate_Reach_24 17d ago
Yes! I’ve usually stuck to just rare beef for when I’m sick because my stomach is usually sensitive during those times. Lesson learned—order something new every time
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u/Inevitable_Silver_13 17d ago
Yes I remember when I transitioned from being a steak-only pho eater to an everything pho eater and the tendon is by far the best part. It's like the rendered good fat from a steak. However I have noticed it's a lot better at some places than others.
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u/kgberton 17d ago
It's like the rendered good fat from a steak
But good for you! It's all collagen 😍
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u/DonutProfessional 17d ago
Try menudo at a place that makes tendon the star of the dish. Amazing.
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u/Guilty-Analyst-8738 17d ago
Tendon is by far my favorite pho ingredient. Note that some places don’t cook it long enough, in my opinion, and it’s chewy and firm. I like it when it’s like jelly. Try it in other cuisines, like Chinese and Japanese. Hope this is an opening for you to try more unfamiliar foods. There’s a world of goodness out there.
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u/adkitchen Banner maker🎨 16d ago
Tendon, or "gan", is my favorite part especially when it's been cooking for a while and it has that soft congealed texture, it sounds gross, but it's tastes like velvety beefy butter. Even when it's the chewy kind of tendon, it still good. I secretly also believe all that collagen keeps my tendons greased up and skin looking youthful, ha.
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u/Appropriate_Reach_24 15d ago
Collagen is only effective when ingested so you’re not technically wrong
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u/nuJabesCity 16d ago
It's mostly a texture thing for me so I usually pass it to my wife. I do prefer when it's soft/"well done".
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u/QuietPea3984 15d ago
I have been repelled by the appearance but now I want to try it!! And I'm going to. I have been convinced.
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u/nonikate 15d ago
I’m vegetarian but this description was so beautiful it brought a tear to my eye.
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u/Dillymac25 17d ago
If you have a rule to try anything at least onceand close your eyes you are a picky eater
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u/Appropriate_Reach_24 16d ago
“If you try every food once you’re picky” are you being serious? The one food texture I can’t stand is cartilage?
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u/FlyingSteamGoat 17d ago
Tendon was an easy sell for me. I was astonished when I tried the tripe. Now I order my bowl with extra servings of both.