Seattlest Pix 09Nov07
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Seattlest Pix 09Nov08
So Monday Seattlest took the day off from work in order to fight a cold. It'd reached a point where we didn't want to do much more than sit on the couch, tissues in hand. By the end of our exhausting day of rest and relaxation we were understandably hungry. We were too tired to cook, and we didn't want to leave the apartment. There was only one food we craved: pho. The Vietnamese delight has often been hailed as cureall for both illness and hangovers, and we were certain that we could easily find a source to bring some to our door.
Imagine our surprise when we found that pho delivery doesn't exist. We Googled, we Yelped, we Citysearched, and nada. Either someone is doing a piss-poor job of marketing their services or it just isn't possible to get pho delivered to your doorstop. So here's our proposal to anyone with the capital to make it happen: Pho is cheap. People that crave pho when feeling less than 100% are more than willing to pay a premium for convenience. So you make pho delivery happen, and we can all but guarantee you success. (We recommend you start on Capitol Hill since it's the most dense area of the city, not just because we live there.)
[Seattlest is certain that we've read another post about the genius of pho delivery elsewhere on the blogosphere. We can't remember where that was, otherwise we'd cite it. In any case, your words ring true mystery blogger.]
Image from flickr user kaz_k
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What the hell do you think this is New York? Get thee on a Metro Bus and go get some phresh pho phoshizzle. The rice noodles would get so soggy in the time it would take to deliver it. Pho like Dicks Burgers are best in a minute period of time after they are made.
I'm seriously going to start Pho delivery in Seattle. The noodles wouldn't get soggy if you packaged them the way Pho Bac packages them for me when I get their pho to go: broth piping hot in its own container, noodles with onions, meat, cilantro together, and then a bunch of thai basil, jalapenos and sprouts in a little bag. Ok, it's horrifically packaging-intensive and therefore wasteful, but when you're sick and tired there's nothing better than pho on your own damn couch. It still tastes just as good after I've driven it home and assembled it, so I think the delivery idea would totally work.
I can't see a small hole-in-the-wall place like [insert name of any number of pho places in Seattle] being too fond of delivering, 1. to a bunch of sick people, who are probably the only people who would want pho actually delivered, 2. for $5 a pop. Even with a minimum delivery charge, it's much easier to have 50 people come into the restaurant, chow it down in 5 min and then leave so 50 other people can take their place immediately. That's why it seems like the perfect restaurant model--it's essentially just fast food.
Not that I don't love it and wouldn't want a bowl of it on my couch, but asking for delivery seems like a little much. Of course I probably won't be saying this in 2 days when i'm stuck on my sickbed at home with whatever seems to be going around lately.
I totally agree. I was sick last week and searched all over the internet for pho delivery. Alas, I can only count on a good friend to bring it over. I would pay double to have it delivered when I'm sick and don't want to get on a bus, in my car, or whatever.
Count on your friends. That's all you can do for most delivery in this town (note I did not say city). We don't have many things other city dwellers take for granted.
I think you'd be hard-pressed to find Pho on wheels in most cities for the economic reasons folks gave above. I like the Friends 4 Pho idea though--how about we start a nonprofit where folks who have colds and have friends who work in Kent and aren't going drive back to get them Pho can request a volunteer to go get the Pho? Like those drive-a-cancer-patient-to-chemo programs. Seattle can always use another micro-nonprofit.
How weird is that? In general there seems to be a lack of delivery in Seattle, especially of Asian food. The only thing I can think of is Restaurantstogo.com delivery from Zao Noodle Bar in UVillage, which has chicken pho. Far more expensive than an actual pho place, but when you're sick sometimes it just doesn't matter.
Who needs delivery when there is good Asian restaurantst on just about every block of the entire city.