What The Pho

A Miami-Dade resident, Huey hails from a family of restaurateurs, including those behind the Miss Saigon Bistro establishments, with locations in Pinecrest, Coral Cables, and South Beach. One of 11 children, the newbie restaurateur says he opened What the Pho as a tribute to his 89-year-old mother, Gai Nguyen; born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City — a metropolis in southeast Vietnam — she taught Huey to cook many of her homeland's most basic dishes while working as head chef at Miss Saigon Bistro's Pinecrest location, where she continues to cook today.Today, What the Pho is chef-owner Huey's first private venture outside his siblings' establishments. Until now, he preferred to play the affable host, his outgoing demeanor earning him the title of "the show." When his sisters needed to drum up business, he'd be there to help usher in the crowds and keep the patronage happy.As you might suspect, many of Gai's recipes can now be found at What the Pho, everything from handmade spring rolls and peanut plum sauce to giant, steaming bowls of pho, hu tieuvamien, orcanhchua.