As Vietnam’s national dish, it’s a cornerstone of Southeast Asian cuisine, and thanks to Southern California’s thriving Vietnamese community, it’s a staple across Los Angeles too.

Pho, Vietnam's iconic noodle soup, has evolved over time with classic and modern variations, becoming a symbol of Vietnamese ...

Incorporating new preferences, Southern pho broth evolved to be sweeter, darker, and richer. In 1975, Northern troops captured Saigon, ending the Vietnam War and bringing about massive migrations.

Phở King is a pop-up inside Pink Bellies, a Vietnamese restaurant on Upper King Street in Charleston. ... which has been serving pho in Southern Vietnam for four decades.

Pho from the south is sweeter, bolder and fattier. (Unsplash: Hong Anh Duong)Pho was popularised in the city of Hanoi in Vietnam's north — today the national capital.

If you need a little visual help in making up your mind, Blooming Vietnamese Cuisine (11900 South St., Cerritos; 562-924-9998, www.bloomingcuisine.com) is the place for you.