Viet Fa Vietnamese Restaurant — Review by Randy Santel
St. Charles, United States — Vietnamese
Randy Santel attempted the massive 10 lb pho challenge at Viet Fa Vietnamese Restaurant in St. Charles, Missouri, ultimately losing by finishing only about 7 of the 10 pounds. While he enjoyed the quality of the beef, broth, and noodles initially, the sheer volume and the noodles absorbing the broth made the challenge nearly impossible to complete. He recommends their normal-sized pho bowls and other Vietnamese dishes.
What was great: The beef was very good, including the thinly sliced beef, brisket, and meatballs. The pho broth was enjoyable. Normal-sized bowls of pho look excellent.
What could improve: The 10 lb challenge portion was excessively large and the noodles absorbed too much broth, making it difficult to finish. The challenge was nearly impossible to complete within the 40-minute time limit.
The Dishes
The challenge featured a 10 lb pho bowl consisting of approximately 4 lbs of noodles, 3 lbs of three different beef cuts (thin sliced beef, brisket, and diced meatballs), and the remainder in broth. The bowl also included traditional Vietnamese sides such as bean sprouts, raw jalapenos, limes, and additional Vietnamese condiments. Randy started with chopsticks but eventually switched to a fork. The pho was extremely hot when served, requiring him to eat the beef first while the noodles cooled.
The quality of the ingredients was evident from the start. Randy particularly enjoyed the thinly sliced beef that had been cooked in the broth, the brisket, and the meatballs. The broth itself was flavorful and enjoyable during the initial bites when there was adequate liquid.
The Experience
The restaurant was packed with supporters who came to watch Randy attempt the challenge. The atmosphere was energetic and encouraging, with spectators cheering him on throughout the 40-minute window. The staff was attentive and even refilled his broth when needed, showing genuine support for the challenge attempt.
Value and Pricing
The stakes were clear: failure would cost $100, while success would earn a free bowl of pho, a $100 gift voucher for future visits, and a spot on the wall of fame. The challenge price reflects the massive 10 lb portion, though Randy noted that their normal-sized bowls of pho are reasonably priced and look very appealing.
Notable Moments
I've done a 10 lb ramen challenge, so that was a lot harder. I promise you they're their normal size bowls of pho look very good.
I did 144 oz of milkshake yesterday with ease. So, that tells you how big this challenge is.
The critical turning point came around the 20-minute mark when the broth had been completely absorbed by the noodles, leaving dry noodles that were nearly impossible to consume without additional liquid.
The Verdict
Randy failed the challenge, managing only about 7 of the 10 pounds and joining the wall of losers at the restaurant. However, he emphasizes that this loss reflects the extreme difficulty of the challenge rather than the quality of the food. He strongly recommends ordering normal-sized portions of pho at Viet Fa, along with their other Vietnamese rice and noodle dishes. The restaurant is perfect for anyone seeking authentic Vietnamese cuisine in the St. Charles area, though the 10 lb challenge is only for the most experienced competitive eaters.