Next time you need a pho (pronounced "fuh") fix, you don't have to head to Federal Boulevard. Instead, stop off at Pho-natic on East Colfax Avenue.

Located catty-corner from the Capitol, this eatery, which peddles Vietnamese street food, bustles with young professionals and politicos. Dine there or grab take-out, but don't miss ordering the namesake dish: pho. With 23 varieties, you can pack your soup with most any combo of ingredients, but we favor the rare steak and tendon.

Dress up your bowl with the typical accoutrements—rings of jalapeño, sprigs of fresh basil and the cilantro-esque saw-leaf herb, piles of bean sprouts and onions, and a couple squeezes of lime—and dig in. The first thing you'll notice is the broth's star anise undertone and the excellent ratio of broth to noodles (i.e. far more broth than noodles). Per usual, servings are generous (we couldn't even finish a small).

Tip: Allow your pho to cool while munching on crispy egg rolls wrapped in leaf lettuce and cucumber. Pho-natic's variety have nothing in common with the usual grease-soaked rolls that leave an oil slick behind.

229 E. Colfax Ave., 303-832-3154