Nong La

A dependable Vietnamese option in LA proper, Nong La has two locations (Sawtelle and La Brea), but their Sawtelle space stands out for being our top spot for pho west of the 405. The meat here is high-quality, and their broth is light and lemongrass-y. The pho tai bo vien (rare steak and beef balls) is our go-to, but If you want to kick the spice level up a notch, we recommend the bun bo hue: a spicy lemongrass soup with pork patty and beef shank. The grilled pork banh mi packed with pickles and herbs is a must-order, too. They also have a solid beer and wine list and a separate bar area, if you feel like posting up for a solo soup mission.