http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/dining/where-the-pho-is-a-sure-thing.html "…a clutch of Vietnamese cafes that arguably rank among the nation’s most authentic…"
Joe Germuska: tom ram man (succulent grilled shrimp cooked in caramel sauce in a clay pot) and bao xao luc lac (cubes of sautéed beefsteak coated with black pepper, served with lettuce and radicchio for wrapping).
Joe Germuska: "a splendid version of bun bo hue, a heavy and spicy beef soup scented with lemon grass from Hue, in the middle of Vietnam, and rice noodles that do a convincing imitation of spaghetti." -Sietsema
Joe Germuska: "My Tho: It features sliced pork roll (which tastes something like bologna), shrimp, fish cake, mung bean threads and an herb mixture that emphasizes cilantro and scallions." -Sietsema