Pho Lee is a cozy restaurant, tucked between Big Dog Running Co. and Chappy's Deli on Glenn Avenue.
Owner Lee Pham received a degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University, but he decided to follow a different passion.
"I love serving, and I enjoy cooking," Pham said. "That's one of the reasons I opened a Vietnamese restaurant."
Pham also opened the restaurant due to the increasing diversity in the community.
"In Auburn, [there are] a number of Asian people, especially Korean," Pham said when asked about his customers. "The majority of our customers are American. People love to try new things."
Pham uses his restaurant to bring Vietnamese culture to people who otherwise might not experience it. The restaurant is decorated intricately, with Vietnamese instruments hung on the walls. Vietnamese music plays in the background.
A bicycle is the only thing that looks out of place, hung to replace the double "O" in the "You Have a Good Day!" wall art, but it adds a quirky sense of charm that is also evident in Pham.
Pham lived in Vietnam before moving to Auburn in 1996. His sisters also live here and helped him start-up the business. His nephews, who are currently in high school, work for Pham after school.
"He's definitely a family man," said Jessica Evans, a server at Pho Lee. "They all care about each other."
In fact, the recipes Pham uses come from his mother, who used to cook pho, or noodle soup, for him.
The ingredients used at Pho Lee are fresh, including the beef broth that is made in house. All of the food is MSG-free. There are different options on the menu, which include many gluten free and vegetarian options.
"[We have a] very varied menu [with] a lot of choice for everyone," Pham said.
The restaurant's motto is "Eat Healthy, Live Longer," which is a motto that Pham had in mind for years.
"[If] you eat healthy, it makes you feel better," he said.
Along with the motto is Pho Lee's logo, which was designed to look like Pham himself. The restaurant was in the planning stage for nearly two years, during which Pham did a lot of research.
"It's a high risk business," Pham said. "Even now, sometimes I think about it, [and I ask], 'Did I make the right decision?'"
However, with the restaurant's six month anniversary quickly approaching, it is looking like the restaurant is here to stay. Six months can make or break a restaurant, according to Pham, and he is happy his restaurant has done well, even though he is a new restaurateur.
"I went when it first opened, so they were still working out some kinks service wise," said Katelyn Judd, senior in interdisciplinary studies. "But, for a new place they were great. The food is really amazing."
There have been some difficulties in weaving the authentic Vietnamese culture into an American restaurant.
"I see how they do things from their culture versus how Americans do ours," Evans said. "It takes some getting used to. I always try to help them out and teach the American codes of how things should be stored and things like that, just because they didn't have the knowledge of it."
Even with the difficulties, Pham has big plans for the restaurant.
A liquor license has been approved for Pho Lee, and now Pham said he is looking for a distributor. Pham said he wants to start serving Vietnamese hot wings and beer.
"Our bar is small, but I want to have international beer for Americans to have something new and something diverse to try," Pham said.
Pham is infectiously optimistic about his restaurant's future.
"I love when young adult people come and try different things," Pham said, smiling. "We have fun!"
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
