This icy cold weather calls for a steaming hot bowl of pho. For the best bowl of pho, head to Pho Cyclo, the 2025 NoVA Wars: Pho winner.
The Falls Church restaurant took on Fairfax’s Pho4ever in the final round of voting to become the 2025 champion. Before the final round, Pho Cyclo defeated East Wind Restaurant in Fairfax, Pho Saigon Oi in Springfield, Pho 75, and Saigon Bistro in Chantilly and Sterling.
“We are truly humbled and immensely grateful to have been selected as the winner of the Northern Virginia Magazine’s Pho War competition,” said the staff of Pho Cyclo. “This award is a testament to the passion we pour into every bowl. For us, pho is more than just a dish, it’s a connection to our heritage and a way to share the warmth and richness of Vietnamese culture with our community.”
The family-owned Vietnamese restaurant opened in 2003. Looking to fill up with a bowl of pho? The restaurant staff suggests adventurous eaters try the No. 57, which includes beef eye-round, beef brisket, tendons, and beef tripe. Those looking for a more traditional bowl should order the No. 63, which includes beef eye-round, beef brisket, rice noodles, and beef broth. To celebrate the win, the restaurant will be offering a 20 percent discount on all pho orders through Tuesday, December 23.
The restaurant also serves a variety of other spicy and mild soups, along with tasty Vietnamese rolls, curries, stir fries, and vegetarian options.
When our food critic Alice Levitt last visited the Vietnamese restaurant, she said “The broth at this Merrifield restaurant is amiably greasy, evidence that plenty of rich beef goes into the soup. The Pho Cyclo combines rare eye-round, cooked brisket, and puffy pieces of gooey tendon. There’s vegan pho chay, too.”
Pho Cyclo is located in the Yorktowne Plaza Shopping Center and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 8102 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church
Feature image courtesy Pho Cyclo
